Why Do Girls Lag Behind In Mathematics, You Ask? Here's The Real Reason

For as long as I can remember, I've heard statements like 'Girls are weak with numbers,' and 'Boys do much better in mathematics than girls.' The statistics do reveal that boys fare better than girls in the subject, but there's very little articulated about why girls lag behind.

Statistically, girls lag behind in mathematics and perform comparatively lower than boys in the subject because of the systemic gender bias and stereotypes they face in school, at home and in society at large.

Girls Weak In Mathematics, But Why?

Right from the beginning when children start to learn at home, and then at school, they get stereotyped with what they can and cannot do, what they're capable of and what they aren't. That's where the problem lies. The deep-rooted bias that stems from the psyche that boys ace numbers while girls struggle with it leads to the trajectory of how girls perform in school or even pick their subjects for higher studies. 

It's surprising to see that the scenario is not just largely prevalent in India but also worldwide. An extensive report by UNICEF found that girls globally have been lagging in Mathematics as compared to their male counterparts. The survey report titled Solving the equation: Helping girls and boys learn mathematics investigated within hundred countries and discovered that girls do not just perform poorly when compared to boys, but they're also losing interest in related subjects which involve numbers, strategy and calculations.

The report revealed that boys have up to 1.3 times the odds of obtaining mathematics skills than girls. The report notes that negative gender norms and stereotypes often held by parents, teachers, and peers regarding girls' ability to understand mathematics are contributing to the disparity.

According to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, "Girls have an equal ability to learn mathematics as boys – what they lack is an equal opportunity to acquire these critical skills."

Suggested reading: How Educators Can Help Make STEM Fields Diverse And Can Encourage Students To Stay

How is sexism affecting girls' interest in the field?

Girls losing interest in the field of STEM is not a stage we can investigate and crack, the larger issues connected to it must be tackled effectively as well. Most common stereotypes include passing comments around girls being weaker in calculations, girls not being able to count on the tips of their fingers like boys or them just being limited to speaking good English and not performing high-intensity subjects primarily. These need to be dismissed if we are to bring shifts in education and bridge the gap.

In developing countries, where girls do not get education opportunities and majorly stay out of schools, the condition is much worse, and the gap much wider.

A few women, now in their 30s, who dislike mathematics tell SheThePeople that they lost interest in the subject and even finance, for that matter, much earlier in life because they were either repeatedly told that this was not their domain or they were simply not appreciated enough for trying. "I would often hear people say boys are better at mathematics and that the kind of financial decisions they take is above par, which left me thinking that girls weren't meant for this area, and this thought was forged way back when I was a child," says Amandeep Dhanda.

Prabhleen Malhi, who aced her Mathematics and Accountancy board exam, reflects on how it was difficult for her to come to terms with her skills in the subject. "I always liked the subjects but also invariably had self-doubts because the environment I grew up in, maths and finance weren’t ideal for women. It takes a lot of effort to rise in a world full of biases, especially if we talk about education."

It's not just schools and teachers, parents and families also set girls up for failure and poor performance because they constantly nag them and that negative nudge at a young age often leads them to give up on things they could have excelled at had they been given opportunities and guidance.

Girls possess an equal capability to comprehend mathematics and related subjects, what they lack is an equal opportunity and platform to learn, perform and be appreciated for it.

The problems extend not just to gender bias; the gap in education between males and females in many developing countries also contributes to women not being able to access basic education opportunities, let alone excel at a particular subject.

The education systems need to revamp the way they're introducing subjects to children through teachers who must impart knowledge equally to all children, irrespective of gender. The crisis is more profound than what the surface reveals today and if wish to transform conventions of learning for successive generations, we must bring major shifts in how we teach children leaving behind age-old prejudices and conditioning.