If you think having more statues of women or putting images of women on our currency is trivial, think again. What girls see impacts how they feel about themselves, their academic performance, and their position in the world.

A new report released today by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), called Why So Few?, examines the reasons behind the lack of women in the STEM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Many things come into play, but one of the most important factors in a girl’s success is her expectations of herself, expectations that are created by the outside world — or, as psychologists refer to it, nurture rather than nature. The report cites a study in which a group of college students were given a math test. When the students were told that men do better on the test, men actually did do better, by a significant margin. Male students outscored the female students with mean scores of 25 to 5. When the students were told before taking the test that men and women typically scored the same, the gap narrowed dramatically. Male students still outscored the female students, but the means were now 19 and 17. The interesting fact is that when equality was preached, not only did the average score of the female students go up, but the average score of the male students went down. The self-fulfilling prophecy strikes again.

So what does this have to do with statues and stamps and currency and street signs? Every one of these things sends a consistent and persistent message to girls. They imply that “only men are leaders.” And, conversely, that “women can’t be leaders.” This message is not lost on the psyches of girls and women. So next time you wonder why there are so few women in Congress or why there has never been a female president of vice president, look at the pictures on the money in your pocket, the stamps on your letters and the statues that grace our streets.

Change the icons and change the world.

3 Responses

1. AAUW says:
   

   Thank you for writing about AAUW’s new research report! Please feel free to join us on Thursday for a live Webcast about the report. For more information and to register for the Webcast, please visit: http://whysofewwebcast.eventbrite.com/

   March 23rd, 2010 at 10:54 am EST
2. Swannie says:
   

   Women as visible role models, or simply visible as an acknowledgment for their accomplishments, has long been an issue throughout the world . I am so thrilled this is the new project . Everyone can join in. I am trying to bring it to t6he attention of Greta Van Susteren . Let get big really fast !!!

   Love and HUGS
   Swannie

   March 23rd, 2010 at 12:47 pm EST
3. Rochelle says:
   

   From a young age, boys and girls need to be taught they have the same opportunities for success – that they can be partners who elevate each other equally. With women highlighted for their achievements to the same extent men are highlighted, women used as protagonists in books, women’s achievements being considered as achievements – men and women alike can learn to respect women’s capabilities and contributions to society.

   With that respect will come increased contribution of women in society, recognition of that contribution as valuable, and hopefully the shattering of our cracked glass ceiling.

   March 23rd, 2010 at 2:51 pm EST