CNN: Why do Girls Lose Interest in Math and Science?

[Cynette]

Are girls really losing interest in Science and Math in HS, or are they just pursuing other interests which may make them more well-rounded than their male counterparts? The article only gives two statistics to show the disparity, the ratios in AP Physics and the number of women enrolled in engineering.

But without viewing the statistics behind the news release we don't have the whole story.

What percent of girls take AP classes in total?

What percent take any AP science (Bio, Chem, Earth Sci...)

Does a girl who takes AP English, French and Chemistry dislike science and math more than a boy who takes AP Physics, Statistics and Am. History? Or has she run out of room in her schedule trying to spread her interests out?

How about career selection... what other careers were counted as Science loving careers, or Math loving careers? Do biologists count? Doctors? Pharmacists? Accountants? Business Majors?

Maybe the problem is with the appeal to AP Physics and engineering.

Time out for a caveat...
(I am an engineer. I love science and math and many moons ago I was coerced (talked into) into engineering by a guidance counselor. And while I love being an engineer and sailed through my undergraduate and graduate degrees with a maximum of 20% women in any class, I have discovered that when I grow up, I think I want to be a teacher. Yeah - I'd probably teach science or math. Would that mean I loved science and math less had I become a teacher? I don't think so. )

Back to my initial train of thought...

I have a daughter who is a Junior in HS. Does she like science and math? Not as much as English and Social Studies. But she is taking AP Physics and AP Calculus. Does she like either one of those classes? Not really. Is that my fault or her guidance counselors fault? No. It really is that she has discovered that there are many other things that seem more fun to her.

As a matter of fact she wasn't going to take physics at all, to make room for other classes - like AP Biology and AP Chemistry. See, she doesn't want to be an engineer, she wants to be a doctor. She thought that doctors didn't need to take physics. But when we went through the college catalogs for pre-med, almost all of them said she would need to complete two semesters of physics, so she decided to give it a go. Maybe the schools just do a bad job of explaining what physics is? (I remember not liking physics much when I was in HS either, but it was a tracked science so all college prep students took it. Oops, I digressed again) Maybe HS's give the smart girls too many other classes to choose from, and AP Physisc has the least appeal.

Of her group of AP Physics, Calculus taking, and so on girlfriends - none of them want to be engineers either. But there are 3 doctors, two pharmacists, two biologists, and other assorted careers, none of which should be considered "domestic."

Maybe a new study need to be done... why do girls not choose engineering if they are good at science and math?

Cynette

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Will you be telling me I am not enough of a scientist when I am getting rid of your tumor? Or your child's? I hope not.

[Cynette]

Originally Posted by Eugenia Gabrielov
Will you be telling me I am not enough of a scientist when I am getting rid of your tumor? Or your child's? I hope not.

Wow! It only took you 25 words to say what it took me 400 words to try to explain!