Gender Differences in Attitudes Toward Math
Ask any teacher about the makeup and dynamic of their class, and one of the first observations will be the differences between their male students and their female students. Boys and girls vary greatly in their behavior patterns in the classroom, their study habits, and their strengths and weaknesses, especially when it comes to math. Girls tend to have a *negative attitude* towards math and often show a higher sense of anxiety when it comes to solving math equations. This negative attitude plays a significant role in why girls shy away from math-related career paths and higher-level math courses. 📚
How Parents and Teachers Influence Attitudes Toward Math
Research shows that these negative attitudes towards math often start at home. Parents and teachers play a crucial role in shaping how female students approach math concepts. If parents and teachers are aware of their influences and work together, both girls and boys can develop higher self-confidence when it comes to mathematics, leading to greater success. 💡
The Role of Parents’ Attitudes
A parent’s personal attitude toward math has a tremendous influence on a child’s perception of the subject. If children hear their parents get excited about finding different ways to solve a problem or see that their parents stick with a math problem without giving up, they are likely to adopt these behaviors. On the other hand, if parents get easily flustered, give up quickly, or invalidate the importance of a particular math concept, the children will also pick up on these negative behaviors. Parents must be mindful of instilling a *positive attitude* towards math and encourage their children to approach each problem with confidence and determination. 🏆
Gender-Based Expectations and Their Impact
Sometimes, without even knowing it, parents may place gender-based expectations on their children when it comes to math. Studies show that parents of high school and middle school boys often assume their children will perform better in math than girls. These gender-based expectations can be detrimental to girls’ success, as lower expectations may suggest that it’s not important for girls to excel in math. This, in turn, negatively impacts their attitude toward the subject. 🙅♀️
Encouraging Girls in Math and Science
Parents can encourage their daughters to pursue careers that require strong knowledge of math, such as science and engineering. By setting high expectations for their daughters in math and science, seeking help early if their daughters struggle with math, and emphasizing the importance of math in their future, parents can empower their girls. 📐
Collaborative Effort to Foster Positive Attitudes
Parents and teachers can work together to foster positive educational attitudes toward math in both boys and girls. Children who are encouraged to excel in math will not only gain greater self-confidence in the classroom but will also carry that confidence into other aspects of their lives, leading to success. 🌟
For further reading, check out the full study: Gunderson et al. (2012) – Sex Roles
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