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From:
Jennie Dusheck <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 1 Nov 2010 11:16:39 -0700
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ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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Just my two cents, but one way to be girl friendly is to not focus 
too much on the fact that something is "for girls." Girls get 
reminded frequently that they are girls. "Aren't you pretty," "What a 
nice dress." "Don't be afraid of science (even though you are a 
girl)."

I think a big part of being girl friendly is not being girl 
unfriendly. Use every day examples that are not "gendered." I.e., not 
football or motorcycles and, equally, not fashion or cosmetics. 
Ungendered phenomena: Rain drops rolling down a window; cereal 
floating in milk, or the static charge from socks coming out of the 
dryer.

It's also worth noting that girls have caught up in math.
http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-10-20/opinion/17186450_1_math-scores-janet-hyde-math-skills
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92881902

The continuing gap in SAT math scores is due, in part, to more girls 
than boys taking the test. Fewer boys take the test and they self 
select from a higher performing group of high school students. 
Because boys who don't go to college have more options in the work 
force, more of them don't bother to take the SAT.

Jennie Dusheck

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