Girls’ Attitudes About STEM Careers: Similarities and Differences Among Race/Ethnic Groups

[Ian David]

Girls’ Attitudes About STEM Careers: Similarities and Differences Among Race/Ethnic Groups

Although many girls today challenge the stereotype that they can’t excel at math and science, these same girls may not see themselves pursuing careers in the STEM fields—science, technology, engineering and math. In this lesson, students read about new research that explores obstacles to women pursuing STEM careers and discuss how to remove the barriers. Students will also compare and contrast their own perceptions of STEM careers to those of girls of different races and ethnic groups.

Essential Questions

What stereotypes exist about girls pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and math?

How do those stereotypes specifically affect white, African-American and Hispanic girls?

What might account for similarities and differences among white, African-American and Hispanic girls regarding STEM careers?

More:
http://www.tolerance.org/activity/girls-attitudes-about-stem-careers-similarities-and-differen

[mactime]

1. Interesting

Anecdotal story, at my children's school the advanced math and science class students are about evenly split between boys and girls. Most of the students are white, Asian and Hispanic with very few African-American students. Even though the school is pretty evenly split with whites slightly more and Asians slightly less than a quarter

[exboyfil]

2. Two daughters

I have been emphasizing academics their entire lives. One is planning on Electrical Engineering/Film Studies, and the other is planning on undergraduate Biology/Biochemisty/Creative Writing and then Medical School.

The biggest challenge I faced was getting both daughters into Algebra in 8th grade (it was a war). It is probably both girls weakest subject (but still straight As for both in it so far). They both have high verbal ability (especially the younger one). The older ones spatial is very good.

I have been very hands on, and my daughters are relatively bright (not genius level). They work very hard, and I tutor them extensively. I work with my daughter on the math and chemistry problems. What amazes me are the kids with a high extracurricular load, honors classes, who still pull 4.0. I can't imagine how smart they must be. The time commitment alone on homework should kill their grade.