This text is part of the special section Unionism
If there is consensus in Quebec society about the negative consequences of dropping out of school for boys, the dropout of girls, certainly less significant in number but just as real, too often goes under the radar.
“During a speech last November, the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, declared that boys dropping out of school constituted an obstacle to the economic development of Quebec,” notes Annie-Christine Tardif, vice-president for professional life at the Autonomous Federation of Education (FAE). However, he never mentioned the girls dropping out. »
Why such omission? “It’s the idea that dropping out of school can be explained because the school is poorly adapted to the needs of boys, which is not false,” she continues. On the other hand, from this observation, we come to deduce that the school is perfectly suited to girls, which is not entirely true. »
Another reason why dropping out of school among girls gets less attention is that the warning signs of dropping out of school are not the same for boys and girls. “In boys, the warning signs often manifest themselves in the form of behavioral problems, such as defiance of authority,” emphasizes Annie-Christine Tardif. In girls, on the other hand, these signs are often internalized and manifest themselves as anxiety disorders and low self-esteem. These are less visible signs, therefore more difficult to detect. »
Causes and consequences
To find out, the FAE commissioned a study in 2012 on girls dropping out of school and although the study has not been updated since, the findings still hold up, according to M.me Late. The primary cause of school dropouts is poverty, which affects boys and girls equally; school dropout being more frequent in disadvantaged areas than in better-off areas.
However, there are causes of school dropout that are specific to girls, including family adversity. “In dysfunctional families, it is mostly girls who take on the responsibilities that parents neglect, such as household chores and caring for younger children,” explains M.me Late. This family responsibilities means that they often abandon their studies and end up dropping out. »
Sexual stereotypes can also be decisive. “In families where sexual stereotypes are present,” she emphasizes, “girls’ studies are little or not valued at all. They are instead directed towards so-called feminine tasks, such as taking care of others and the family, which does little to encourage the pursuit of studies. »
The consequences of girls dropping out also have their particularities. “First, there is the question of employment,” she says. If boys who drop out manage to find a relatively paying job, in construction or in a factory, this is not the case for girls who drop out, who are often confined to the service sector, where the pay is lower. There is more financial insecurity among girls who drop out than among boys. »
Another consequence, undoubtedly more pernicious, is the impact of dropout girls on their offspring. “The studies are formal,” specifies M.me Late. Mothers’ education has a direct influence on children’s academic success. Since it is women who generally take care of the educational support of children, a dropout mother, therefore less educated, will be poorly equipped to provide this support, necessary for school perseverance, which ultimately fuels dropout. »
Solutions
“The first step to take to counter girls dropping out of school,” says Annie-Christine Tardif, “is to first recognize it and then understand its specificities. Then, when we want to propose solutions, we will have to take a differentiated approach, which takes into account the specific needs of girls who have dropped out. »
A concrete example ? “If the government can set up paid training in construction, which is aimed more at boys than girls,” she continues, “why not offer financial support to girls who have dropped out and want to hang up their careers? The latter have often become mothers and the responsibility of children is often a financial obstacle to returning to school. »
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