Girls And Math

I read an interesting article titled "Negative Gender Stereotypes Disrupt Girls’ Math Performance". The article (which can be read here) is about the stereotype that males are better at math than females and its impact on young girls. Girls as young as the first grade are doubting their mathematical abilities and developing an "I can't" attitude because they are being told that they are less capable than their male peers. Gender is no indication of intelligence. Females are just as capable as males of succeeding at math, but some people refuse to accept this. How did this stereotype begin? I believe it is because it was rare for females to enter the field of mathematics until several decades ago. Although an increasing number of women are pursuing math-related professions, such as accounting and engineering, some people are still opposed to the idea of females entering these once-male-dominated fields. The assumption that females cannot succeed at math is closed-minded and untrue.

Who is responsible for this negative message? In part, I blame the media. There are shirts with sexist slogans, such as "I'm Too Pretty To Do Homework So My Brother Has To Do It For Me" and "I'm Too Pretty To Do Math" (as pictured below), that send the message that girls are all looks and no brains. In 1992, Mattel released a talking Barbie doll that said the phrase, "math class is tough!". I cannot even list all of the movies and television shows that I have watched that have featured a female character who was characterized as being an airhead. This might seem harmless, but it has a significant negative impact on young girls and it is making them doubt their intelligence, which is no joking matter.

 (according to some clothing companies, girls can't be beautiful and have brains)

The media is not the only negative influence on young girls. The women in their lives, including their mothers and their teachers, have an influence on their attitudes about math. Girls will learn to dislike math if the women in their lives teach them to dislike math. Women: we are responsible for putting an end to this pattern. Develop a positive attitude about math and the young girls in your life will follow your lead.

The article suggested that the solution to the problem is to surround girls with successful females in the fields of mathematics and science to inspire them to take an interest in these subjects. Danica McKellar is one positive female role model. The actress-turned-author wrote a series of math books for adolescent girls that make math feminine and fun. McKellar's advice and encouragement is an inspiration to teenage girls who struggle with the subject. In 2010, Mattel released a computer engineer Barbie doll, a step in the right direction after their fail with the mathophobic Barbie doll.

 (McKellar's best-selling series of math books for teenage girls)

What can we as teachers do? We should encourage our female students to believe in themselves and to be confident in their mathematical abilities. Female teachers in particular have an important role in helping their female students succeed in math, despite the discrimination against them. Girls can rule the world one equation at a time if we give them the proper encouragement to do so.