By Petra Kotuliakova | Project Leader
It's quite simple, but it requires long-term work with start in primary school. Especially in mathematics.
It requires parents work of those girls and teachers who teach them. Jo B. in the book "Mathematical feelings" discusses many researchs into mathematics and the human condition in society.
Research has found (Good, Rattan and Dweck, 2012) why people continue or do not continue to study mathematics. It is hiding behind this sense of belonging. (In other words, how they feel to be members of the mathematical group and how are they accepted to this group by it's authority.)
How strong is the sense of community concerns pupil / student / person, predicts whether he will deal with mathematics in the future.
The researchers then calculated which are the reasons behind the weak feeling of belonging. And two are quite shocking:
1. Sense of mathematics is innate and immutable capability.
2. Women are considered to be less capable than men.
These two reasons have an impact mainly on the girls. For boys there were hardly considered at all. Therefore, the girls less engaged in math and therefore score worse than boys.
The researchers further found that girls who had a stronger sense of belonging, remained devoted to mathematics later in life.
When the girls meet with the statement that mathematics can be improved, and that there is no sense or talent for math, these girls achieve the same results than boys.
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