Why Boys Read less

  The first question that comes to mind when discussing the gender gap in reading is why boys read less? There are several reasons that scholars and Universities have come up with to explain why this is,  but only a few have true sophistication to them. The common reason that is brought up often is that boys read less because they don't like many of the books that are set in front of them. Studies also say that it has to do with boys' attention span, and their need to be quickly and easily entertained. Some scholars even go as far to say that boys' short interest rubs off in school and other academic activities. When it comes to choosing a science project, the aerodynamics of Nerf gun darts sounds much more appealing to a boy.
                 So when it comes to reading, topics like sports appeal more to a boy. What can teachers and parents do to get their boys more interested in reading? In the recent article I've analyzed, Pam Allyn the author of Turn Your Boys into Readers, says "Boys interests, as silly or bizarre as they might be, can help you cultivate your classroom into an engrossing reading world for boys and girls alike." Allyn's statement explains that boys' have a much more seperate interest in genre and reading then the interest of girls. There is a lack of understanding in the minds of teachers and parents when it comes to boys' reading habits. Most teachers and parents think boys just naturally grow a dislike for reading dew to their need for physical activity, but Allyn suggests that boys would like reading much more if it were things that interests them.
                 Allyn's veiw point is that boys would read as much as girls if the books they read were genres or topics that interest them. Allyn explains multiple times how asking questions and digging for information form boy readers can help teachers figure out what is it that interests them. "I encourage you to stand up for your boys' reading selections. Make them feel proud of what they are reading and value what they truly want to read. If they feel this from you, the classroom will be completely more boy-friendly. Always ask questions: 'Does this work for both girls and boys?.'"  Says Pam Allyn as she wraps up her explination for why boys read less, and how teachers and parents can help raise the levels of reading interests in boys.
        

Do Boys Read As Much As Girls?

             The discussion of the gender gap in readings suggests that boys lag behind girls in reading.But as it turns out, other authors say otherwise. Richard Garner, the author of the article I've recently analyzed, Boys Read As much As girls, But prefer the Simpler books  , has a view point saying that boys do read as much as girls, but prefer the simpler books (obviously). It was hard for me to take in as I read his article because of so many studies I've analyzed suggested that boys don't read as much. So reading his article was kind of an eyes-opener because it definitely is a perspective I could have never thought of on my own. Garner says "First the good news: boys are reading as much as girls. Now the bad: the books they choose are far less challenging and easier to comprehend than those selected by girls, and this gets worse as they grow older."
                 Garner explains that boys tend to read books that are simpler than the book choices a girl would choose. Though his explanation seemed valid in the beginning of his article, his view point began to slant back to what most studies say: Girls read more than boys. As I read on, Garner jumped back into his original view point, but ended up changing it a little bit. "The study notes that both sexes tend to choose books that are easier to read once they reach the age of 11 and transfer to secondary school." Says Garner in his slightly slanted change. He said in the beginning that boys read as much as girls, but less challenging books, whereas girls read more challenging books. Then he switches his view point saying that boys and girls both read less challenging books.
               Though Garner's studies seemed a little shifty, he did bring up excellent points saying that since boys have different interest in books, they read at different levels than girls; therefore, they still do read, but not on the levels a parent or teacher would expect. The book battling gender gap has a wide range of information that can get a little confusing. My advice to those who search for answers over this topic, I suggest that you ask plenty of questions and analyze various studies and articles in order to understand the gap.  Observe articles like the one by Richard Garner, to see slants and shifting view points so you can avoid getting confused.

Why Girls Read More

    In the research of why boys read less then girls, other than the male perspective, the female perspective also has to be considered in order to understand the significant wide gender gap. To recap, Pam Allyn view point, author of Turn Your Boys into Readers, says that boys would read as much as girls, if the books they read appeal to their interests. Is that the same concept for girls? Do girls read more because it's easier for them to find books that appeal to their interests? Do girls read more because they have more patients towards reading? Studies show exactly why it is that girls read more. In Eric Weiner's article, Why Why Woman Read More Than Men , his view point is clear and simple: "women are more empathetic than men, and possess a greater emotional range—traits that make fiction more appealing to them." What Weiner is basically saying throughout his article is that men and woman (boys and girls alike) have separate interests due to psychological reasons.
                  As Pam Allyn explained in her article, boys' reading habits are effected by the interests that they acquire in life. A woman has more "emotional range" than a man would, one of the reasons why fiction is more popular for females. In his article, Weiner brings up several references to Ian McEwan, a British author who takes a significant interest in the reading gender gap. Weiner definitely agrees with McEwan's view points on why woman read more than men. "Explanations abound, from the biological differences between the male and female brains, to the way that boys and girls are introduced to reading at a young age." Says McEwan, with a view point that Weiner obviously agrees with. Weiner stresses in his article how biological and psychological differences play a large roll in the gender gap, and why women read more.
               He goes on explaining how genre has a lot to do with why women read more. Fiction in particular is brought up often in various explanations saying that womens' emotional range and interests draws them to reading like moths to lights. Now some studies show otherwise.
             Some studies suggest different views saying women read more because they have more patients and other things like that. But who's to say it's not both? Either way it goes, there's not denying the wide gender gap in reading.

Introduction

Why is there a large gap?

           Most kids can say that reading is something they have to do in school, but that doesn't mean they enjoy it. A question that remains in the minds of many is why the majority of anti-readers are boys. When trying to figure this out, one must look at multiple perspectives. In this case, there are three major perspectives that we will focus on. One saying why boys read less, the other saying why girls read more, and the last suggesting that  boys actually do read as much as girls. Many questions will be asked over this topic, but I see three being most necessary:

§  Why do girls read more than boys?

§  Why don’t boys read more?

§  Does brain development have to do with why boys read less than girls?