Make: To Build a Better Team, Build a Better Robot - Kate Azar on Women in STEM

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by Citrus Dad

Reading this article, it strikes me that we need to work on social education for both boys and girls on FIRST teams. I think the social chemistry is probably unique on these teams and needs a more specific understanding of context than the general approaches that that seem to be offered.

I have seen similar situations in a couple of settings. Most of the girls on our team (with one notable exception) respond with an attitude of "I don't know anything about tools/building/computers" when asked to help with something technical. We once nearly got in to an argument, albeit light heated, with one of our girls to get her to learn to use a saw. I can only really think of one boy on our team who has ever responded in a similar way. Unfortunately I don't know whether the behavior of the girls comes from something before they join the team, the way the boys on the team treat them, or something else.