Gifted Girls By Cristal Locke January 2004 Gifted

Gifted Girls By Cristal Locke January 2004 Gifted Counseling

Challenges/Obstacles • Mixed messages that undermine their achievement potential. January 2004 Gifted Counseling

Influences • At birth – environmental cues – color coded clothing – toy choices • Parents encourage particular attributes by gender. – Boys - aggression, outgoingness, independence – girls - passiveness, dependence, and nurturing January 2004 Gifted Counseling

School Experiences • Gender inequities • The American Association of University Women (AAUW) (1992) reported that girls receive – – – less teacher attention less complex challenging interaction less constructive feedback lower mathematical achievement expectations (Hallinan & Sorensen, 1987) January 2004 Gifted Counseling

Guidance Counselors • Give girls less encouragement • Less information about courses and careers in the sciences (Oakes, 1990) January 2004 Gifted Counseling

College Textbooks • “Male accomplishment and female invisibility” (Sadker and Sadker, 1994) • “Centuries of recorded history parade before today’s college students, but women continue to make only a rare appearance” (pg. 175). January 2004 Gifted Counseling

Societal Expectations • • Stereotypical female expectations Stereotypical media images “Good Girl” as a child Acceptance includes: – Playing dumb – Hiding intelligence – Silencing voices (Brown & Gilligan, 1992) January 2004 Gifted Counseling

Andy Capp January 2004 Gifted Counseling

Lessons Learned • Put others above self • No knowledge of women’s contribution to history • Contribution less valuable • Women paid less • Women’s sports less attention and less funds • “Less value in being female” – boys January 2004 Gifted Counseling

Effect on Girls • Primary grades – self assured (Rogers & Gilligan 1988) • Adolescence – self doubt • Increases for gifted girls (Howard-Hamilton & Robinson, 1991) January 2004 Gifted Counseling

Effect on Girls • Failure to achieve in career aspirations? Out of the high percentage of women in college: Undergrads and Grads – – 17% architects 8 % engineers 27% law school 15% professors January 2004 Gifted Counseling

What can be done? • Change negative selfperceptions • Teach gifted girls to question and speak out • Identify strengths and interests • Encourage personality characteristics • Provide counseling January 2004 Gifted Counseling

What it Feels Like for a Girl • Girl can wear jeans and cut their hair short. Wear shirts and boots. Cuz it’s ok to be a boy. But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading. Because you think that being a girl is degrading. But secretly, you’d love to know what it’s like. Wouldn’t you? What if feels like for a girl. January 2004 Gifted Counseling

The End January 2004 Gifted Counseling