First off, I agree with Steven's point of view. Secondly, I agree with Elizabeth. In fact, I agree with both. I'm not sure that's allowed, but roll with me. I think there's some truth to men being born with an aptitude toward math and sciences. However, social pressures also add to the cause by pushing women away from these subjects. With men being more natural at math and science, they would tend to embrace these subjects. It's easier to excel at something that you are good at, rather than try to improve on a subject you don't care for. Women, who won't learn as naturally, have to work a little harder at these subjects to be comparable. It's the same reason guys tend to lack English skills in elementary school, and strugle with corect gramer and sppelling long intu theyr collegge yeers. Girls are not socially pushed to be good at grammar, it's just naturally the way they are. That doesn't mean that all social aspects are exempt, however.
Although it seems crazy to think that young girls are pushed away from math and science fields because someone told them, that's essentially what is happening, with less words. Actually with a lot less words. It's the actions of role models and adults in their lives that are telling girls what is acceptable and what is not. By influential women in their lives not taking math or science-related positions, subconsciously the young girls are being told that they too should not be interested in those things. It all started a long time ago when men would go to college and women would stay home to care for the children. From that point on, the little girls, seeing their fathers as the only ones in those related fields, start thinking they should try something else. It's like that short group of advertisements for boys and girls we watched in class: the guys want to play with Nerf guns and robots because they see that's what the guys in the commercials are doing, and vise versa.
Q's:
1) Is the statement that guys are better on the ACTs but girls are better in the classroom accurate? Or is it a matter of who tries harder?
2) Are girls influenced to not try math and science fields because they don't see their women role models doing it?
As to your discussion questions:
ReplyDelete1) It sounds accurate to me personally, though I can't vouch for the scientific data. I can usually get math problems right, but it always takes me more time to do the methods that make sense to me. That's why I personally did poorly on the math portion of the ACT, and consequently the test overall. I scored really high in English that didn't require calculations, but in the math section I didn't have nearly enough time to finish the problems, even though I knew how to get the answer. That's why I didn't bother taking it again. It wasn't a matter of not knowing, it was a matter of time to do what made sense.
That being said, I think sex differences in motivation should certainly be examined. It's kind of off topic and the book didn't talk about it, but I think it's very relevant to a debate like this, because effort certainly factors into success.
2) I think that is very much part of the issue.
In response to your questions...
ReplyDelete1) Is the statement that guys are better on the ACTs but girls are better in the classroom accurate? Or is it a matter of who tries harder?
1) From what I've seen, that statement seems to have some truth. I've witnessed girls get better grades in high school classes, but it seems guys (on average) do better on the ACT than their high school grades show. However, I am a counter-example to this...you might be too:)I don't think trying hard can help much on the ACT, it's how you are able to apply what you learn, not memorize information. Take what you want from that..
2) I believe role models play a huge role for girls. There has to be a support system. It's not fun to see men shocked at what you do because it's not typical for a woman. I think a supportive male role model would also help, but I don't think they can quite understand the situation or are often unwilling to understand. I feel a lot of men like to show that they are impressed or shocked that a woman taking a path common for a man, but those reactions do not show support.