Hurrell (2001) studied masculinities in the English classroom and found that:

Masculinity and English

Hurrell focuses on two areas; gender as a social construction and the social construction of masculinity.

• Social construction – A process that the society sees, and the product.
• Social construction of masculinity – Boys observing their fathers performing literacy in relation to work such as consulting manual or computer for technical problems which may encounter in their daily life.  “English is more suited to girls because it’s not the way guys think….. this subject is the biggest load of bullshit I have ever done. Therefore, I don’t particularly like this subject. I hope you aren’t offended by this, most guys who like English are faggots (Martino, 1995 cited by Hurrell, 2001). 

Media

Boys are viewed as disadvantaged in literacy achievement and educational underachievement in schools in the twentieth century Australia by media (Martino, 1995a cited by Hurrell, 2001).  “In a school system dominated by women, boys are suffering while girls pull ahead. That’s the argument fuelling the backlash against girls’ education strategies” ( Australia, June 1995 cited by Hurrell, 2001). The media has pointed out the inadequacy and the constructions of boys, and this sort of criticizing is a problem because the image of boy was seen as monolithic, universally and unequivocally failing group.

Research

Hurrell (2001) suggested boy was constantly constructing a masculine self when he researched on the conversation between the two boys; Greg and Gary:

Greg: (Reads scenario to point about reading books for adults.)

Gary: That’s really, um he needs medical attention, seriously.

Greg: (laughs) (Continues scenario to point about getting work done on time.)

Gary: That’s not me.

Greg: (Continues scenario to point about computers as only past time).

Gary: He needs medical attention, seriously.

Greg: (Continues) So, my question is what do you think of a boy like that?

Gary: Is he on drugs?

Greg: I dunno, that’s not included, you think there’s something……

Gary: Does he go to a psychiatrist?

Greg: No.

Gary: Cos he needs to.             

The eagerness in establishing the masculinity in boys making them to portray behaviour such as writing more violent contents than girls, writing stuff including weapons and avoid talking about books and constantly constructing and adjusting their gender-appropriateness behaviours.  They prefer to avoid talking about ‘English’ thinking that it is belong to girl, a subject that is more feminine (Hurrell, 2001).