Academic Summary of “Why Girls Beat Boys at School and Lose to Them at the Office”

In the article “Why Girls Beat Boys at School and Lose to Them at the Office,” clinical psychologist Lisa Damour explores how notions of confidence and competence can hold women back in the workplace. She does this by introducing shared concerns that others have had regarding their daughters’ confidence levels and school, and then provides suggestions as to how this confidence gap can be resolved.

To guide her argument, Damour asks the audience “What if school is a confidence factory for our sons, but only a competence factory for our daughters?” She explains that too many girls believe the only way to be successful in school is to put in maximum effort compared to boys, who don’t have to take school as seriously. For example, Damour explains that some boys put minimum effort into any assignment and often still end up with the same grade as girls. This builds their confidence and makes them feel “‘like a stud.’” However, girls won’t allow themselves to do this because they don’t feel “safe” putting in minimum effort; they lack the confidence in themselves to do so (Damour). 

After describing the confidence gap that divides boys and girls, Damour suggests a few ways that parents and teachers can encourage girls to equalize this gap. She explains that abstaining from applauding the “inefficient overwork” that girls all too often engage in should become the first move for parents and teachers to help eliminate the confidence gap for girls (Damour). Finally, she encourages educators to remind girls that they shouldn’t pressure themselves into doing extra credit work just for the insurance of a good grade, as they can succeed without it. And even though this confidence gap isn’t the only thing holding women back in the workplace, it is an issue that we can confront right now (Damour).