The general observation that it is a man's world is all you need to know about cause and effect. Meanwhile, the facts tell a different story. In almost every measure of academic standing boys have fallen behind girls in our schools, and the gap is widening. They are also less committed to education and less likely to go on to college. In tests of disillusionment, unhappiness and demoralization, boys outrank girls - in some cases dramatically so.
Boys are five times as likely to commit suicide.
The focus in this book is on the American situation, but there have been Canadian reports with similar findings. And in Britain, where the underperformance of boys has been the subject of media attention for a decade, the government has taken active steps to help boys catch up. If you're a disciple of Rousseau, then you tend to think people are naturally good and it is the system that is at fault. Since Hoff Sommers is conservative in outlook, she tends to put what blame there is on human nature. In some ways this actually makes her more of an optimist.