Gender studies

Why do analysts like Lucy Hunter (your report, 5 June) 
assume pupils from “lowest 
income homes” form a homogenous group? Arguably the single most noticeable differentiating factor is gender, ie there are male and female pupils. Are there roughly equal numbers of males and females going to university from “lowest income homes”?

Or is there a significant difference between the sexes from “poorer areas” entering university? This makes understanding motivation far more complicated than some academics seem to assume.

Ellis Thorpe

Old Chapel Walk

Inverurie