Examines research concerning the effects of cultural expectations, school structure, and parent expectations on the reading attitudes and performance of boys and girls in different countries. (FL)

Reviews the literature and research on sex differences in children's reading preferences and suggests that social pressure or training may account for observed sex differences in reading choices. (WR)

A study used a Functions of Reading Scale to explore the reading activities of students in grades three, five, and eight in Ireland and the United States. Results showed the patterns of relationships between the variables in the Scale to be consistent across cultures and grade levels. (FL)

Reexamines Preston's 1962 study of reading achievement of American and German boys and girls in the light of implications the study has had on the literature and compares it with recent studies. (MKM)

Discusses research the author undertook with a class of fifth graders, in which they read and discussed popular series books. Shares examples of their talk about the topic and what that talk reveals about the potential of the classroom as a space to reveal, complicate, and challenge gendered assumptions about what is desirable or appropriate…

Concludes that male tutors effect greater gains in the reading achievement of Mexican American boys than do female tutors. (RB)

Discusses the results of a survey of children's reading interests classified by age and by sex within age levels. (TO)