@Happytimes2001 “I strongly believe that what matters to children begins in the home. If you tell your children ( male or female) that math AND English matter then they will.”
I think this is a complex problem with many contributors, but I think you are right that this is the number one issue. The students who are excellent at math and English typically have parents who taught them that math and English are the foundational tools that are required to learn all other subjects. If a student does well at math and English, they will always have access to any subject.