'Maths for boys' stereotype develops in second grade

Tuesday March 15, 2011 06:33:04 PM, IANS

London: Gender stereotypes regarding maths may develop as early as the second grade, says a new study.

Children applied the stereotype to themselves: boys identified themselves with the subject, whereas girls did not.

The "maths is for boys" stereotype has been used as part of the explanation for why so few women pursue science, maths and engineering careers.

The cultural stereotype may nudge girls to think that "maths is not for me", which can affect what activities they engage in and their career aspirations, the journal Child Development reports.

The study suggests that for girls, lack of interest in maths may come from culturally-communicated messages about maths being more appropriate for boys than for girls, the researchers said, according to a University of Washington statement.

But the stereotype that girls don't do math was odd to lead author Dario Cvencek, born and raised in the former Yugoslavia.

"We didn't have that stereotype where I grew up," said Cvencek, post-doctoral fellow at the University of Washington Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences. "People there thought that math went with girls just as much as it did with boys."

"Our results show that cultural stereotypes about math are absorbed strikingly early in development," said co-author Andrew Meltzoff, psychology professor and Cvencek's counterpart.

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Fourth n-reactor on fire in Japan, PM tells people to leave area

A fire broke out at a fourth reactor in Japan's Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant Tuesday, hours after a blast ripped its third reactor. As the  »

Japan toll may cross tens of thousands, fears of nuclear disaster remain

Fresh blast in Japan n-plant; 2,000 more bodies found

  Most Read

MCOCA court rejects bail plea of Malegaon blast accused

The Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in Mumbai March 15 rejected the bail application of the Muslim accused arrested in the 2006 Malegaon blast case.   »

Relatives, activists shaken by rejection of bail plea; to move for an appeal

Its raining promises at Maha Urdu Academy award giving function

The government of Maharashtra in an award giving function of a state body March 14 unleashed a new list of promises for promotion of the Urdu language and   »

Maha Urdu Academy to give away annual awards today… after a gap of six years

  News Pick

When Jamia Nagar women came out of burqas to showcase talent

Sara Pilot says she was amazed at the response to the just-concluded Jamia Bazaar after her effort to provide a platform to the underprivileged  »

Haj Committee invites applications for Haj 2011, removes ban on children

The Haj Committee of India March 14 declared to begin receiving applications for the Haj 2011 from March 16. It also decided to remove the ban it had imposed in 2009 on carrying children for Haj.   »

Another woman found in a bag in Mumbai

Five days after the body of a woman was found stuffed in a suitcase at Mumbai's Juhu Beach, the body of another unidentified woman in a bag has been discovered, police said Tuesday. The body of the woman, believed to be in   »

25,000 tribals march into Mumbai

Around 25,000 tribals, many barefoot, have reached Mumbai from all over Maharashtra demanding that they not be evicted from forests where their families have lived for thousands of years. Tribal leaders said they have met   »

Aurangzeb's sword, pen stand gifted by Afghan King re-discovered at AMU

The ongoing process of reorganization of manuscripts at Maulana Azad Library, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has revealed some hidden treasure in the form of   »

Picture of the Day

Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid inaugurating the Moot Court Building at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) March 12. Salman Khurshid visited the university to deliver Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Lecture 2010-2011. During his lecture, Khurshid pitched for AMU's minority character.