Virtual Commons - Bridgewater State University

The Detrimental Effects of Masculinity on Achievement and Motivation in Male BSU Students

Hart 114

American male college students are struggling academically compared to their female counterparts – they are more likely to drop out and less likely to seek help with their academic difficulties. Through interviews with male BSU students who are struggling academically, we are learning that one important factor influencing the gender achievement gap and the increasing drop-out rates of male college students is an adherence to masculine norms that discourage men from discussing their struggles and reaching out to others for help. This leads to a downward spiral of continuing to worsen academically, not reaching out to others for help, and losing motivation to combat these struggles. By learning more about these factors, we can hopefully contribute to planning university initiatives to decrease the gender achievement gap and increase our retention rates of male undergraduate students.