The differences between boys and girls in the performance in reading and mathematics : evidence from Portugal

This thesis aims to investigate if there are differences between boys and girls in the performance in reading and mathematics grades of Portuguese students that completed the 9th grade of regular basic education. We try to explain the differences between genders in reading and mathematics grades using an ordered logit model, by looking to three different factors: family environment, individual’s characteristics, and school’s location. In a first raw analysis, it seems that girls are better in reading than boys and equally good in mathematics. However, as we start to add controls for different factors as family, individual’s characteristics, and school’s location, we conclude that girls are even better in reading, but boys have higher performances in mathematics.Esta tese pretende investigar se existem diferenças entre rapazes e raparigas no desempenho a português e matemática dos alunos portugueses que concluíram o 9º ano do ensino básico regular. Para tentar explicar essas diferenças nas notas de português e matemática, utilizamos um ordered logit model e temos em conta três fatores: ambiente familiar, características do indivíduo e a localização da escola. Numa primeira análise, verificamos que as raparigas são melhores a português do que os rapazes e igualmente boas a matemática. À medida que começamos a acrescentar controlos como ambiente familiar, características do indivíduo e a localização da escola, concluímos que de facto as raparigas superam os rapazes a português, mas não a matemática