Read this article published in Le Cercle Psy magazine.

Neurodevelopmental disorders, language delays, at-risk behavior… In many respects, boys have more difficulties than girls. Are they, in the eyes of scientific research, the real weaker sex?

Sociologists have always seen women as the weaker sex. With equal qualifications, women are less successful professionally than their male counterparts: in addition to being paid less (between 7% and 21% less than men), they work more part-time and have long suffered higher unemployment rates than men. And yet, scientifically speaking, it’s boys – with their Y chromosome and testosterone under their arm – who are far more likely to fail.

More at risk of developing a disorder…

When I was pregnant, I was always afraid of having a boy. « But why? » my friends and family would ask, bewildered. « Well, because they’re much more at risk of developing a whole host of disorders and risky behaviours, » I’d reply. Indeed, a quick look at the sex ratio of the various neurodevelopmental disorders is enough to fuel the chronic anxiety of mom-psychologists[1]. ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity) and ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) affect boys 3 to 4 times more than girls. Boys are more affected by learning disorders, language disorders, dyslexia and dysphasia. Schizophrenia, like other psychiatric pathologies, also affects twice as many boys. Between the ages of 15 and 25, boys are more at risk of car accidents and suicide, with mortality rates three times higher for boys than for girls in this age group[2]. Maternal depression, for its part, disrupts the cognitive and emotional development of male babies to a greater extent, putting them at greater risk of attachment disorders. Traumatic events generally have a greater impact on boys than on girls. Allan N. Schore, an American psychologist and researcher in neuropsychology and affective neuroscience, points out that « for certain mental pathologies or addictions, gender is more predictive than any other factor, because male specificity persists, whatever the culture »[3].

… and failing at school

At school, the vulnerability of boys crystallizes ever more clearly. Historian Pierre Caspard points out that girls have been performing better at school for more than a century, particularly when it comes to handling language and spelling[4]. Twice as many boys as girls leave school without a diploma, or with only the brevet. Meanwhile, 12% of boys enter ^6th grade at least one year late, a third more than girls. Boys’ difficulties at school are observed very early on, from the moment they learn to read, and throughout their schooling, from nursery school to university. Jean-Louis Auduc, historian and author of « Ecole: la fracture sexuée »[5] finds that pupils who fail at school despite coming from affluent backgrounds – and are therefore conducive to success – are almost exclusively boys. Conversely, pupils who succeed at school despite coming from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to be girls… Sylvie Ayral, PhD in educational science, points out that 80% of middle school punishments are given to boys (it’s worth noting in passing that punishment is a valued sign of virility for males at this age). Why such differences?

A more fragile body

Research teams in sociology, cognitive science, neurobiology and endocrinology are attempting to explain why being a boy is in itself a risk factor. There are several complementary hypotheses. First, the cultural hypothesis. As a result of numerous gender stereotypes (« boys are stronger than girls, and they don’t cry! »), little boys receive less support and affection than girls. It’s thought that they need it less, that they’re less fragile. According to biochemist William Frey, the fact that men don’t have the opportunity to cry to their heart’s content, and thus release their stress molecules (found in tears), exposes them to more stress-related disorders – such as strokes and heart attacks. Some research suggests that testosterone, the masculine hormone par excellence, promotes agitated and impulsive behavior (studies have shown that girls exposed to excess testosterone during fetal life are more agitated). Testosterone also tends to reduce the body’s immune responses and expose it to viral attacks, while estrogen, on the other hand, boosts immunity. In short, the vulnerability of boys is the result of a complex interplay of biological and societal factors.

A must-read!

Stéphane Clerget (2015). Our boys in danger! School, health, maturity. Why it’s more complicated for them and how to help. Flammarion.

Alix Leduc (2017). Elever un garçon, mission (im)possible! Editions Leduc.

Gaëlle Guernalec (2017). Boys, more fragile, more at risk. GYNGER website

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[1] For the empathetic reader in you, rest assured: I had two daughters after all!

[2] Source: Troubles mentaux Dépistage et prévention chez l’enfant et l’adolescent. Report commissioned by the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie des travailleurs indépendants (CANAM). Expertise Collective. INSERM

[3] Allan N Schore (2017). All our sons: the developmental neurobiology and neuroendocrinology of boys at risk. Infant Mental Health Journal. Vol 38, Issue 1.

[4] Pierre Caspard (2007). Why are girls so superior? Contribution à l’analyse historique d’un problème. Histoire de l’éducation, p.115-116.

[5] Fabert, 2016