Negative stereotypes about boys hinder their academic achievement

[DavidDvorkin]

Negative stereotypes about boys may hinder their achievement, while assuring them that girls and boys are equally academic may help them achieve. From a very young age, children think boys are academically inferior to girls, and they believe adults think so, too. Even at these very young ages, boys' performance on an academic task is affected by messages that suggest that girls will do better than they will.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/sfri-nsa020513.php

[AngryAmish]

1. I'm not convinced that stereotype threat exists

It comes from the "priming" theory - of which a lot is junk science. Actually, much of the field of social psychology either lacks rigor or is outright fraudulent.

I just see good old fashion gender discrimination behind boys poor academic performance in the past few decades.

[KurtNYC]

2. "the origin of the (boys will be boys) stereotype is unclear..." ?!

Quite clear to me.