Findings , showing that by the age of six American girls don’t think they’re as smart as boys, should give all parents pause.
The study found that girls were less likely than boys to show interest in a game that was labelled ‘for really smart children’, and they were also far less likely to assume that the ‘smart’ characters in a story were girls.
In other words, when they see the word ‘smart’, girls are switching off and assuming that their gender is excluded.
This is a problem because the long-term consequences can . In academia, pursuits where “raw talent was required, academic departments had lower percentages of women”.
...when they see the word ‘smart’, girls are switching off and assuming that their gender is excluded.
There is actually no clear evidence that girls and boys aren’t equally capable when it comes to intellectual pursuits (and, in fact, neuroscientists like Cordelia Fine argue that any ).
However, even very young children are buying the stereotype that only boys are brilliant.
The authors of the recent , Cimpian and Leslie, argue that girls are being held back not by their innate abilities but by the culture around them. In Western culture, genius is so strongly associated with masculinity that even parents are pigeon-holing their kids. In fact, parents “Is my son gifted?” than “Is my daughter gifted?”
As parents, it can be hard to accept that we are unwittingly contributing to sexism. So what should parents do to give girls intellectual confidence?
1. Point out the successes of girls and women, especially to your sons.
This is not all on girls; , boys are already learning that the world is their oyster.
Parents should show all children that in fact, human endeavour does not have to have a gender bias and nor does the responsibility for caring work or the less glamorous jobs. Not all plumbers are male, not all surgeons are male, and not all nurses are female. Point out the female doctors, politicians, artists and scientists that you see around you.
In the home, parents can also offer a challenge to by showing that any adult can tackle different types of jobs and responsibilities. Mowing the grass, changing nappies, managing the finances, painting the front fence and cleaning the toilet are not gender-specific activities!
, there is no quantifying the value of strong role models. Introduce kids to female genius both fictional and real: think Roald Dahl’s Matilda, J.K Rowling’s Hermione, NASA scientist Katherine G. Johnson, and activist Malala Yousafzai.
Mowing the grass, changing nappies, managing the finances, painting the front fence and cleaning the toilet are not gender-specific activities!
2. Mind your language.
Too often, girls are praised for their or their capacity to be quiet and placid. Rather than saying to your young daughter, “that’s a pretty dress!” or “you were such a good girl for sitting still!” you could say “it’s so clever how you’ve worked out that puzzle already, I can see you love to learn new things.”
Otherwise, - not characteristics that lend themselves to pursuing brilliant careers or striving to achieve highly.
Meanwhile, boys who hear that they are “brave” and who are expected to make mistakes because “boys will be boys” may find it easier to develop faith in their own capacity to learn.
Intellectual confidence is only one piece of the gender equality puzzle, but having girls tackle STEM subjects with gusto is certainly a good start.
3. Look to Arab nations for inspiration.
Many erroneously assume that predominantly Muslim countries such as Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates would enforce gender inequality in education.
In fact, the reverse is true: in these nations, . While Australian universities are still trying to find more gender balance in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses, these types of careers are v
This suggests that the idea that only boys can be maths geniuses are entirely cultural: when girls are encouraged to work with numbers from an early age, their abilities are just as good (or better) than boys’.
not only are only 13 per cent of engineering graduates female, but the percentage of female STEM graduates earning more than $100 000 a year is only 12 per cent (compared with 32 per cent of males). While genius is found in the arts and humanities as well, maths-related subjects are often the ones school-aged children believe require the most intelligence.
Intellectual confidence is only one piece of the gender equality puzzle, but having girls tackle STEM subjects with gusto is certainly a good start.
4. Teach your daughter to back herself.
Intellectual confidence boils down to trusting that you have what it takes. While assertive, confident boys are seen as leadership material, girls can be called ‘bossy’ for the same behaviours, even in the classroom.
This can lead girls to be passive and avoid making contributions in class, and in turn this creates . It’s okay to talk to kids about gender bias and help them to be critical of it, as everyone has the right to learn and strive to do their best.
Your daughter will have the confidence to leap into new challenges if she knows you have her back. Tell her you know just how amazing she can be, every day.
