In my last post, I said I was going to start blogging about science literacy for women at the bassinet level. Already I have made a mistake. We need to start in the womb. There are differences in male and female fetuses that may play a role in the way boys and girls learn science and math. Michael Gurian and Kathy Stevens in their book, Boys and Girls Learn Differently! A Guide for Teachers and Parents
, published lists of fundamental differences at various stages in development that affect learning, including development in utero.
, published lists of fundamental differences at various stages in development that affect learning, including development in utero.
Image via WikipediaSome of the findings support old wives tales that any mom or midwife will tell you. For example, male fetuses are generally more active than female fetuses. How often have you heard a mother-to-be react to a hearty kick with the comment, "I know this one is a boy."
The male fetus produces testosterone and the female fetus produces estrogen. So the hormonal system is already setting up boys to be more assertive, even before they're born. In addition, the female fetus produces more serotonin, than the male. Serotonin, is a hormone that calms you down, and many people take serotonin substitutes to aid sleep, especially women after menopause.
In the male brain, the basal ganglia or reptilian complex is emphasized, which is responsible for aggressive behavior, territoriality and dominance, while in the female brain, it is the cingulate gyrus or limbic part, which is responsible for emotion, motivation and nurturing behavior.
Although the fetus starts out as undifferentiated and basically female, changes instigated by hormone bursts significantly alter males and females before birth. Thus the template for our contrasting performance in learning about science is being built in the womb.
This must seem frustrating to parents. Even in a safe, protected place where social influences can't get at her, your daughter's brain is being wired to make it harder for her to learn science and math.
For that initial nine months of waiting, is there anything parents can do to begin leveling the playing field for daughters? There is. This is the time to begin a dialog about gender neutral parenting. It is important for mothers and fathers to reach a consensus on how they as a team will approach this issue. It is a time to learn through reading and research and conversations with professionals how boys and girls absorb and process information.
Image via Wikipedia
was published, and the era when women began to question their traditional roles and reach beyond the 'female' professions to exciting new opportunities. The year I graduated from college, 1970, marked the beginning of the gender studies movement. Despite all the progress that has been made in improving 
, they congratulate themselves on 'getting through' the science. They admit to having been intimidated by the setting, and credit my lovable characters for getting them through the science bits. This is a little worrisome when you are writing a series. My male readers never express any misgivings about the technical terrain of the novel. Of course, I worked hard to make sure I explained all the scientific and medical references, especially any upon which the plot turned. You have to give mystery readers a level playing field so they have a shot at solving the crime puzzle.
