Girl power can mean a career using math

Arvind Gupta answers math questions

By Arvind Gupta, Special to the Vancouver Sun – April 8, 2009

Lee Woods

This excellent series on math is long overdue! I have noticed with alarm my teenage daughter and her friends seem to be squeaking by in their math classes. They seem to believe that math is for boys only and they “dumb” down constantly. They all want to be famous like Beyonce and don’t seem to understand the importance of math and science.

In our cult of celebrity worship, this attitude is encouraged in school and society. I want my daughter and all young women to pursue the careers of their choice but not all these girls are going to be rich movie stars and rock stars. These are the same women who have trouble counting out change in their part-time retail jobs even when the cash register shows them the exact amount.

How can parents get their kids able to function at the standard level required in the real world while working towards their dream jobs? I am very worried about my daughter’s future and worry she will be left behind. How can I get my daughter interested in math before it is too late?

Hi Lee,

I’m glad you see the need to promote math, science, technology, and engineering with young women. And as you are aware, keeping your teenage daughter’s interest and confidence in math is crucial. We all know what a big difference a little intrinsic motivation can make.

As a start, make it personal and find out what careers interest your daughter. Take a look at the math websites we posted with the March 31 “Math and Gender” article, such as GirlsareIT, Girlsgotech, and girlstart on the Vancouver Sun website and show your daughter some new possibilities while surfing together.

You will find career descriptions, bios of professional women, and tips for parents on how to encourage their daughters to pursue math, science, technology, and engineering.

Locally, Science World has a program called Opening the Door. This is a networking event for students in Grades 10-12 who are interested in careers in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

The program provides students with the opportunity to meet professional scientists, engineers, technologists and technicians who work in a variety of fields.

The key is to connect kids with real people who have careers which use math and science.

Science World also has a program called Scientists & Innovators in the Schools, which brings engineers technologists and technicians into B.C. schools to speak to children in Grades K to 12 about their research. Perhaps talk to your daughter’s math teacher about inviting a local scientist or business person who uses math in their job into the classroom.

Another site that I came across that looks fabulous is the Expanding Your Horizons conference network in the United States. They provide support to professional women in sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, who want to plan and deliver a conference to encourage young women like your daughter to keep up their math and science studies for future opportunities. Suggest that your daughter search “Expanding Your Horizons” in YouTube to see how exciting the possibilities are.

Also very timely—next week’s Math Matters article will reveal 10 fabulous careers that use math. And they are not the usual ones that you would think of!

On a daily basis, do all that you can to encourage and help her be successful in math at school. Check with her teacher to see what support you can help provide at home. You could also take a look back at our original Math Matters article about why we all need math. Don’t despair and keep looking for that hook—that career or situation that will show her the connection between math and her future.