> Girls in STEM: society needs to quit telling people "math is hard, tee hee"
To me, the very existence of "Girls in STEM" groups is sending a weird message to girls (and I’m apparently not the only one to think that). Something along the lines of “sure you can do STEM, you’re just not good enough to do it the regular way so we created a group just for you”.
Honestly that’s the message a lot of diversity initiatives end up sending.
True to some degree, but I think it does help girls get involved in areas where boys are dominant. In high school the comments from boys towards girls interested in such pursuits can deter them. Having a space free of that, at least until they've developed the motivation to continue, is important.
As a high school CS teacher, I've seen how boys can be towards girls interested in coding.
All of this swings both ways, of course, and men are deterred from positions like elementary school teacher, nursing, and secretary roles. Gender being attached to jobs is just dumb in general, and keeps a lot of capable people from doing what they'd love.
> As a high school CS teacher, I've seen how boys can be towards girls interested in coding.
I'm surprised. I was expecting the opposite (boys wanting more girls in the classroom!).
> All of this swings both ways, of course, and men are deterred from positions like elementary school teacher, nursing, and secretary roles.
It's interesting that there's an acknowledgement that we need more male nurses (from healthcare professionals) and male elementary school teachers (from experts in the field) and yet there are zero initiatives to do so.
By that I mean money being spent toward that goal. The same way there's a will to have more "diversity" in medicine... mainly so that people of color can go serve "their people" in underserved areas (read: not very attractive or lucrative).
But in computing we’re spending a fortune and investing time to essentially… commoditize ourselves.
> I'm surprised. I was expecting the opposite (boys wanting more girls in the classroom!).
I think they probably want to be around girls, but most boys are social morons at that age. There is also the element of them being able to get in cheap shots to impress their friends. They don't really think of the consequences.
> It's interesting that there's an acknowledgement that we need more male nurses (from healthcare professionals) and male elementary school teachers (from experts in the field) and yet there are zero initiatives to do so.
Agreed, especially on the school front, as I think it's important for kids in schools to have a range of influences during their early years.
couldn't agree more - have STEM groups and encourage everyone that wants in, to join, but don't make them sit in the 'special class' separate from everyone else.
To me, the very existence of "Girls in STEM" groups is sending a weird message to girls (and I’m apparently not the only one to think that). Something along the lines of “sure you can do STEM, you’re just not good enough to do it the regular way so we created a group just for you”.
Honestly that’s the message a lot of diversity initiatives end up sending.