Eliza Leslie

Research and observations suggest girls on average read more and show greater interest in reading than boys. From early childhood, girls are often encouraged more than boys to engage in reading and storytelling, which are seen as nurturing and quiet endeavors, while boys tend to be be steered more toward physical or outdoor activities. The content of books that school districts acquire is also a factor. Much of the literature available in early schooling consists of stories with the emotional and social content that girls prefer, while stories with the action content that boys like are deemphasized. In addition, studies show that girls tend to develop language skills earlier and more robustly on average than boys, which would likely make reading more accessible and enjoyable for them.