|
Why are girls lacking skills and interest in math and science?
Impact of Socialization
Throughout their learning girls are encouraged to be passive, caring,
to take no risks, and to defer to male voices in the public discussion. They are also given the message that math is for males.
Such an orientation obviously has an impact on how they learn and behave in school.
Women are often penalized for attempting to participate in the "male domain." "Often the perception of behavior is confused
with actual behavior, based on sex-role stereotypes" (Tembon).While a male might be called ambitious, assertive, and independent,
a women displaying the same behaviors is often labeled aggressive, pushy, and argumentative."Studies continue to show that
when women and men exhibit the same behavior, that behavior is devalued for women."(Tembon).
"If girls are clustered in lower level mathematics, their knowledge will be significantly less than males, particularly
white males, who take advanced courses" (Tembon). The self-selecting out of mathematics in high school points to another message
- one of sex role stereotyping - that mathematics is not for girls.
By the time they reach college, most young women have opted out of mathematics- and technology-related programs.
Furthermore, women continue at the university level only "26.5 percent of master's degrees and 8.4 percent of doctorates
in computer and information services were earned by women. And, in the work force, only 27 percent of all computer programmers
and analysts are women" (Tembon)
Source:
Tembon,Mercy.www.webworldbank.org.Washington:2005
| Sex Discrimination Act |
|
| of 1984 |
Know Your Rights:
These examples of sex
discrimination are to help you decide if you are being discriminated against because of your sex.
Hiring
You apply for a job as an executive consultant.Although you have experience and excellent qualifications,
you are not hired because some of the company’s long-time clients are more comfortable dealing with men.
Firing
You are told that you are laid off due to company cutbacks and reorganization.However, men in the same
job and with less seniority keep their jobs.
Promotion
You work as a sales clerk at a retail store for ten years but have been repeatedly denied the opportunity
to advance.Men with less experience, including men that you trained and/or supervised, receive the promotions instead.
Job
Classification
You work at
a company that has an eight-tier job classification system.Your responsibilities have increased over time, but your job classification
and pay has remained stagnant. Male colleagues have their job classification and pay adjusted to reflect their increased responsibilities.
Outline Assistance:
Mason,David.
www.humanrights.govau.sexdiscrmination/index.html : Human Rights,2001-2004.
Want to know more?
Check Out: Human Rights
Ideas Why Men make more Money than Women:
- Men are the "head of the family"
- Higher Positions
- Society thinks men are more capable
- Affermitive Action: Men are wanted for jobs like Elementary School Teachers to give children role
models
- Women leave for raising children
| For every $1.00 a waiter makes per hour |
|
|
| A waitress makes .87.1 |
The Pay Gap Continues Due To:
The Glass Ceiling-
Women face the glass ceiling meaning they reach a point
of no further promotion
The Glass Escalator-
Men face the glass escalator helping them be promoted
faster than women
References to the Glass Ceiling and Glass Escalator are from:
Jesudason,Melba.Glass Ceiling Bibliography. Towson University Library:May
2005.
| In the 21st Century women balance time |
|
|
| at home with children and at work |
|
