Girls better than boys at reading, writing till age 10

Washington: Girls are better than boys at both reading and writing as early as age 10 — a gap that only widens as they head towards adulthood, according to a new study. Researchers came to their conclusion after reviewing the test scores of four- million American high school students, spanning a period of almost three decades. They suggest reading and language are largely seen as feminine skills, meaning boys are less likely to work hard to improve them in a bid to conform to “masculine ideals”. Research shows that girls typically score better than boys in standardised literacy tests. The trend is seen as early as age 10 and continues until the age of 18. Previous research has shown women and men use their brains differently. Girls use both brain hemispheres for reading and writing, while boys typically rely on just one. Boys are also exhibit more disruptive behaviours than girls in the classroom. They are more likely to be inattentive and interrupt teachers. Scientists also suggest that reading and language are seen as feminine skills, even from a young age. This means boys are less likely than girls to push to improve these skills. The finding also challenges the idea that boys and girls enter secondary school at roughly the same level, said the researchers, from Griffith University in Australia. “It appears that the gender gap for writing tasks has been greatly underestimated,” said study lead author David Reilly.