[Dcouncil] Girls to STEM

[Bruce Ullman]

Sweden is apparently the leader in this area.  Many of their preschools have stopped using the pronouns "him" and "her" and substituted a new word, "hen."  The gender-neutral toy stores are very widespread in Western Europe.

Bruce

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carlos Hernandez-Garcia" <chgarcia at jlab.org>
To: "James Davenport" <jdaven at jlab.org>
Cc: dcouncil at jlab.org
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 7:26:41 AM
Subject: Re: [Dcouncil] Girls to STEM

A couple of weeks ago (before receiving these very interesting emails)  
I went with my son and daughter to a toy store here in Berlin. We were  
fascinated by the amount, variety and quality of toys, and also felt  
very comfortable walking around the store, something about the  
arrangement of products was different from the US toy stores but I  
could not tell.

Then, after reading the article and the followup emails from Jen and  
from James, I came back to the store with my son, and observed.  The  
products are definitely not organized by 'gender' in long aisles, but  
rather they are organized by 'theme'. For example, the "house" section  
has a mix of tools and appliances, and the products are divided by age  
group but sharing the same section. Upon observing the crowd, I  
noticed that boys, girls, moms and dads mix throughout the store. In  
another instance, we went to an exhibition of old trains, cars and  
trucks hosted in a large warehouse. Same observation, boys and girls  
of all ages having a great time climbing on the train cars, taking  
pictures and even riding a functioning locomotive engine. We also  
observed a 2-year old girl with her dad and grand-dad. Both men  
wearing heavy metal rock band t-shirts, long beards and jackets ZZ-Top  
style, whom were happily showing the little girl all they seemed to  
know about trains. The girl was having a great time just climbing on  
things.

Is the gender impact more pronounced in some countries than in others?

Carlos

On Sep 24, 2014, at 4:11 PM, James Davenport wrote:

> To piggy back on Jenn's point, I was constantly ridiculed by my step- 
> father growing up because I liked to cook and vacuum. He'd struggle  
> through his self-induced laughter to get out a snide comment,  
> "You're going to make someone a great wife someday."
>
> The first thing I bought myself after graduating college was a Dyson  
> vacuum. I still have it to this day. I was beside myself with  
> excitement when we recently purchased all new appliances for our  
> kitchen. I clean the glass cook top every night before bed, to the  
> point where my wife says, "Why don't you just sleep in the kitchen  
> with the stove?"
>
> My toddler son loves to vacuum. Every Saturday him and I grow  
> through every carpeted room in the house moving things off the floor  
> and vacuuming. He goes off the rails if he cannot participate when  
> he hears the device started. I wanted to buy him the kid's Dyson for  
> Christmas. I inquired with Toys'R'Us employee about the location of  
> their "home items". She replied, "Oh all the kitchen stuff and  
> things of that nature are in the girls section, because that's what  
> little girls love."
>
> I'm hoping by the time my son gets to be my age there will no longer  
> be such stereotypes associated with "chores" vital to the successful  
> operation of a home. Just my two cents.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jennifer Williams" <jennifer at jlab.org>
> To: dcouncil at jlab.org
> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2014 9:09:02 AM
> Subject: Re: [Dcouncil] Girls to STEM
>
>
>
> Thanks for sharing the article Ron.
>
> One point that stuck with me is the statement regarding toy aisles  
> with an abundance of pink princesses. Just as we discussed in the  
> Gender Impact on Communication Focus Group, this issue stems from  
> culture and social acceptance. In this case, what is the "correct  
> behavior for a girl" and "correct behavior for a boy". It would be  
> difficult to get a girl or boy interested in any subject if they are  
> not introduced and encouraged at a young age that it is "ok" to use  
> and enjoy something that may not fit the "typical" mold.
>
> I think the same issue is trying to encourage girls (and boys) to  
> play sports. If a child is not encouraged to play sports they will  
> have no interest.
>
>
> On 9/23/2014 11:41 AM, Ron Lauze wrote:
>
>
>
> Article to read during lunch (if you get one).
> Ron
>
>
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_____________________
Carlos Hernandez-Garcia
Jefferson Lab
Office:	(757) 269-6862











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