girls don't like science

[plisplas]

I am running a science club in my DS's school. There were 3 girls out of 12 kids. When I asked the teacher (science coordinator) why didn't they invite more girls, she said that a science club was more for boys than for girls, apparently, girls do not tend to like science. I thought she was very wrong, as I am female and I love science, but I don't have any DD. What do you think?

My DD is 5, she loves science things already. She had no hope though with two scientists for parents . I think it's drummed into them from an early age that they are not supposed to like it, and I'm a bit angry a science co-ordinator is just accepting that and not working hard to show girls that science is not a gendered interest at all.

I think it's a load of old gender bollocks and should be actively challenged.

How old is that teacher? Surely someone born before the emancipation of women can't still be alive never mind teaching?!

I would be very very annoyed if this was the attitude in my DD's primary (she starts Reception in Sept).

Can you phrase the question to the teacher slightly differently. Eg: do you have any suggestions how we might encourage girls to join my science club?

Your OP suggests it might be by invitation?

I agree that a science coordinator of all people should be encouraging girls in science.

i am female, and i love science and i utterly despair at the attitude that is being drilled into young girls about what they should like (e.g. pink) and what they shouldn't (e.g. science)

i don't have any DD either.

What complete and utter bollocks. It's no wonder girls aren't doing science if that's the teacher's attitude. Girls and boys enjoy all subjects equally if given the right amount of encouragement.

DW is a scientist.

As is my mum.

My DD is 11, she loves science. She has just done a mock Year 6 SATS paper and got 39 out of 40. She came top in her year.

Well, I love science, in fact thats why I am a physicist . I think they need to do more to enthuse all their pupils on why science is amazing

And don't get me started on pink science kits with perfume experiments

well done HPsaucyDD - KEEP IT UP! there is a world of opportunity out there if you have a solid science background!

I'm female and a scientist and a fairly well established one. Why wouldn't girls like science? I love it - can't imagine doing anything else.

Teachers an idiot yes I'm generalising but so it seems were they I loved science at school, I came across a physics teacher who said that girls couldn't do physics (despite his top 3 students being female) ... I left the school to go to one that didn't have such a stupid attitude.
I don't do a science subject now but it formed a solid base for my degree ... I'm now an architect who really does understand structures too

I think her attitude is responsible for the low proportion of girls, nothing to do with girls not liking science as much.

I do science outreach sometimes, and the girls are just as interested and enthusiastic as the boys!

Oh GOD. [despairs]

Having thought a bit more, when I was a kid I used to love science stuff. I liked to know how things worked and what they are made of whether it was why yeast made bread dough expand to making pin-hole cameras, anything to do with how the body worked and I adored astronomy.

I am definitely a girl

I would be quite shocked to hear a teacher making a comment like that OP. I have three DCs - DD1 is studying Biology at university, DD2 is studying Maths at university and DS wants to study English. Everyone does whatever they are want in our house whatever their gender

science is investigating how the world works, no? what's not to like?
Mind you I was in a supermarket the other day and magazines were arranged men's lifestyle (fishing, cars, politics, you name it) and women's lifestyle (cooking, brides, clothes, gossip). Is it just me or have we jumped back 20 years?

Good idea about asking how to encourage girls to join. We had a limited number of spaces, so the teacher invited what she considered suitable students.

My dd 7 loves science - the science club at her sch is over subscribed and she doesn't have a place . The science co-ordinator is a very popular female teacher.

One of the things my DD was most looking forward to about going to secondary school was getting into a science lab.

Teacher is an idiot. This would make me very cross as a parent, even though I don't have girls.

My boy had a science party for his seventh birthday, he invited equal numbers of boys and girls (his choice).

Also - I teach girls. Plenty of them like science.

i had 2 female physics teachers at school - they were a big influence on me and ended up with a PhD in physics though then sold my soul to the financial world they were utterly "normal" and therefore in no way did i feel like some kind of freak for the fact i had chosen a male-dominated subject.

we need more female science teachers!

I'd complain about the teacher.

Hopefully the HT will make her get back into her time-machine to the past where her attitude belongs.

The majority of people where I work are female and scientists (pharmaceutical company) and I think that's common in other pharma companies also. Very strange comment to make!