Sex Differences in Suicide from Canada

Large study of adolescents from Canada found differences in number of suicides as well as form of suicide. http://journal.cpha.ca/index.php/cjph/article/view/3187

Gendered Impact from Watching TV

A study (of 400) shows that there are different impacts from watching TV according to race and gender.  Continued socialization?
http://m.torontosun.com/2012/05/30/tv-bad-for-kids-self-esteem-unless-theyre-white-boys-study

Neuroimaging and Gender Difference - Vitual Issue

An incredible number of recent studies on gender differences in all sorts of areas, including children:

I. Studies using blood flow based measure

Sex differences in the medial temporal lobe during encoding and recognition of pseudowords and abstract designs


Gender differences in partial-volume corrected brain perfusion using brain MRI in healthy children

The role of the prefrontal cortex in controlling gender-stereotypical associations: A TMS investigation

Boys do it the right way: Sex-dependent amygdala lateralization during face processing in adolescents

Hemisphere- and gender-related differences in small-world brain networks: A resting-state functional MRI study

The role of the prefrontal cortex in controlling gender-stereotypical associations: A TMS investigation

II. Studies dealing with anatomical structures

Regional variation, hemispheric asymmetries and gender differences in pericortical white

A critical re-examination of sexual dimorphism in the corpus callosum microstructure

Men and women are different: Diffusion tensor imaging reveals sexual dimorphism in the microstructure of the thalamus, corpus callosum and cingulum

Beyond age and gender: Relationships between cortical and subcortical brain volume and cognitive-motor abilities in school-age children

Age- and gender-related changes in the normal human brain using hybrid diffusion imaging (HYDI)

The link between callosal thickness and intelligence in healthy children and

Genetics of white matter development: A DTI study of 705 twins and their siblings aged 12 to 29

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Study From UK on Reading Closes A Gender Gap

New study from UK on reading shows:

"The difficulty level of books read by boys in the report is no longer generally lower than girls’. Across the Years, there are four cases where boys’ difficulty is greater than girls, three cases where girls’ difficulty is greater than boys and two cases where it is equal. We can no longer claim that boys read at a lower level of difficulty than girls so overall under-achievement must be caused by other factors. Turning to Average Percentage Correct (APC), this also shows signs of rising. In three (early) Years, APC is well above 85%. In a further three (middle) Years, APC falls below 85% only in one or two cases. In each of a further three (upper) Years, APC falls below 85% in five cases out of 20. However, in general this represents an improvement over last year. Again, it may well be that teachers are guiding students more effectively in the book and quizzing choices."

Gendered Preferences from AP Courses

A study shows that there are gender differences within the preference of taking AP courses (http://apreport.collegeboard.org/). It is another example of how gender does play a role in the education process. This isn't about biological differences here, it is about finding a way to make content interesting and accessible to both boys and girls at a more even rate ... Isn't it?
But this idea of boys and girls having different interests isn't new. With this AP study we just know that it is far reaching. This may lead someone to at least consider the debate regarding some gendered aspects to teaching and learning.

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2012/02/girls_like_biology_boys_like_p.html?cmp=ENL-CM-MOSTPOP

Gender Differences in Addiction

A short article about a study on Areas of the brain that react differently, especially with the issue of stress with women. From the summary,
"The results showed that when women were confronted with stressful situations, there was high activity in the part of the brain associated with craving and addiction. But for men, activity in that particular region of the brain was heightened more when they were presented with cues associated with drugs."
This can certainly impact treatment plans for men and women; can it also be insightful perhaps for educators? Are there stressful situations within schools and classrooms? Might this lead to different reactions for boys and girls? Might there be triggers boys that lead to ritual behaviors that are unwanted (or even wanted)?

Study on Memory

An article discusses gender differences in emotional memory. The bottom line for this study is that women remember pleasant images and men repulsive images. Asnwith any report, don't just change your lesson plans too quickly, but consider while you teach and watch your students. At minimum, there should always be differentiated content, I this case visuals to support remembering ideas.

Math Achievement Differences Might Not Be From Stereotype Threat

Articles pointing to a study that claims stereotypes do not explain diff in math performance!

The study has not been released yet.

Two links
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2012/01/a_new_study_casts_doubt.html?cmp=ENL-CM-NEWS2

http://chronicle.com/article/Stereotypes-Do-Not-Explain/130377/

Differences in After School Activities

A study shows differences in participation in after school activities.

http://www.wiareport.com/2012/01/university-of-michigan-study-finds-gender-differences-in-participation-in-extracurricular-activities/

Study on Gender Differences in Personality

A very interesting study that argues for a different way to understand gender differences. They claim that there might be small individual specific differences, but when put together these small differences translate into large differences. From their abstract, "The idea that there are only minor differences between the personality profiles of males and females should be rejected as based on inadequate methodology."

At the link, you will find the article as well as comments, including on my Hyde (and a response from the authors.)

Differences in Higher Ed Achievement

A working report on differences in higher education achievement favoring women. The authors state that the surprising information was that the gap was in all sub groups.

Could this be a result of a growing gender achievement gap in K 12 education?

Recognizing and acknowledging that there is an issue worth considering is a start. Then, getting teachers to talk about and examine what happens in the classroom is next. Then agreeing to implement some strategies and documenting their impact with gendered subgroups would be next.

It doesn't have to be stereotyping, just looking at quality teaching and how it affects groups.

Small Study from Africa on Second Language Acquisition and Gender Differences

An interesting study from South Africa that shows that girls out performed boys, on average, on second language acquisition, but that the difference was not statistically significant.  It goes on to say that boys and girls should be no differentiation in the ways boys and girls are taught.
It is good to see articles and research from multiple areas around the world.  No one study though should sway someone one way or another, as educators we need to consider multiple perspectives.
As for me, the higher scores of girls may not be significant, but need to be considered.  Differentiation is not just gender-based, but something based on the students that are in your classroom.  One must see, really see, the students that we teach and bring content and skills to them that matter or present in a way that matter.
For example, today, I was teaching about South Carolina and their participation in the Continental Congress.  Five, wealthy, white, men from the low country (along the coast) who, for the most part, did not want independence from Britain.  As I mentioned earlier, most of my classes, have 66% - 75% females and 90% Hispanic and African-American.  I had to draw out the background of those men going to the Constitutional Congress and the difficulty that was eventually faced as history unfolded.  Further, impressing upon them, and opening up a discussion, on taking advantage of opportunities that they have now ... even considering what might have been the case if the background of the participants were different.
Thoughts?

Hormones Impact Memory - Study

A study on how hormones from birth control pills affect memory in women.  One of the interesting parts is that Larry Cahill is quoted.  He has done much work in the areas of sex-differences and is often referenced by both pro and anti sex-difference groups as having a thorough and balanced position.
http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/News/2011/09/Birth-Control-Pills-Affect-Memory/

Study from Columbia and Sweden on Competitiveness and Risk Tasking

A study that finds some differences in competitiveness and competition in some areas and not in others.

http://poliecon.com/2011/09/09/gender-differences-in-competitiveness-and-risk-taking-comparing-children-in-colombia-and-sweden-2/

Gender Differences and Physics

A Study that is being presented at the ASQ STEM Conference states this in the blurb:

The conclusion of the study is that the contexts in which physics questions are presented can have an effect on student response, and can show gender differentiation. To encourage participation of all students, instructors need to be aware of the contexts in which they present their material.

* There is no link to the actual study at this time.  If you find it, please reply and post.