Children adapt their attitudes toward reading to conform to their classmates鈥� perceived gender stereotypes, in ways that put boys at a disadvantage, according to a new study in the journal Child Development.
Researchers tracked achievement and beliefs about reading competency for more than 1,500 5th graders. They found the strength of individual students鈥� beliefs in gender stereotypes about reading was associated with their own self-efficacy and motivation in reading, with girls generally feeling positive and boys negative toward the subject.
After controlling for individual gender stereotypes, they found boys whose classmates held reading-related gender stereotypes had lower reading enjoyment, motivation, and achievement.
