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Gender gaps in reading increase during unplanned and planned school closures
Emil Smith1, Ea H Blaabæk2,3,4, David Reimer1,5
1Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Aarhus C 8000, Denmark.
Summary
Girls
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Gender Studies
- Literacy Research
Background:
- Girls often demonstrate higher academic achievement than boys.
- Reading proficiency is a key factor in educational success.
- Boys may depend more on school-based reading support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the gender gap in student reading habits.
- To analyze how school closures impacted this gender gap.
- To understand the role of educational institutions in reading development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized two large-scale Danish datasets from 2020-2022.
- Measured in-school weekly reading via a digital reading application.
- Tracked student library book borrowing patterns.
Main Results:
- A significant gender gap in reading was observed.
- This gap widened during periods of school closures (COVID-19 and vacations).
- Boys' reading engagement was disproportionately affected by closures.
Conclusions:
- Schools play a crucial role in bridging the gender gap in reading.
- Interventions supporting boys' reading are essential.
- Educational policies should consider the impact of closures on reading disparities.
