Abstract

SAAVEDRA, Luísa. Success and failure at school: the importance of socioeconomic status and gender. Psicologia [online]. 2001, vol.15, n.1, pp.67-92. ISSN 0874-2049.

This study attempts to verify if there is any truth behind the commom public opinion that girls are better students than boys. Assuming a gender perspective, we departed from the idea that neither the category "girl" nor the category "boy" are homogenous Therefore, in this study, we considered both sex and socioeconomic background of the students as possible explanations for their school results. Statiscally we have compared: (1) boys and girls from the same socio economic background and of different socioeconomic background; (2) girls from different socio economic backgrounds and boys from different socio economic backgrounds. The results of this study are discussed in relation with the theorethical assumptions, as well as the implications for policies of equal opportunities in education.

Keywords : Sucesso escolar; género; classe.

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