I’m sorry that it appears as if there is a lack of female politicians. I’m sorry that there is an apparent accepted gender role that women typically do not fufill positions of power. As Beverly Gross explained in her work, “Bitch,” women are ridiculed and discouraged from achieving any sort of powerful position through labeling. She states: “Judging by the contemporary colorations of the word bitch, what men primarily fear and despise in women is power.” Unfortunately, that is the way that politic works. I mean, let’s not pretend that we all didn’t find the SNL skit of Hilary Clinton and Sarah Palin hilarious! The actress portraying Hilary Clinton describes herself as a bitch, while the actress portraying Sarah Palin appears to act ditzy and cute, recieving all of the attention of the media.

My point is that your article misdiagnoses the problem. Its not the clubs we have at school. Its not that too many women are being encouraged into going into science that creates a dearth in politics. Its not if a woman is smart, she will be pushed into science because its been glamourized. She may be more attracted to it, but not because of clubs like Physettes or events like Expanding Your Horizons. It is the fact that there are certain accepted gender roles that society has constructed. Going into environmental science shows a sense of motherhood in taking care of the earth. Going into politics for women displays A-type personalities and power, both of which society has labeled as being “bitchy.”

Gross, Beverly. “Bitch.” Situating Inquiry. Ed. Angela Rounsaville, et al. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2008. October 4th, 2009.

I agree with Deidre’s comment. Posted here:

http://lindashermangordon.posterous.com/math-and-science-for-women-necessary

@lindasherman

There is an organization called Systers with membership of women in computing systems fields (http://www.iwt.org/initiatives/systers/). We’ve been debating this topic since Allison’s article came out. Of course all of us DID go into a technology field, which is the other side of the coin.

There seem to be undue pressures on kids to do the “obvious” thing: tall kids to play basketball, poor kids to go into trades. Smart girls may be pressured into math and science sometimes, and other times they are discouraged. It’s a complicated thing to figure out.

We in the Systers group would like to welcome any girl or woman who likes computing technology or computer science, and we fully understand that not all do.

Allison, I hope that you and others in the same boat keep on using your analytical and writing talents, whether it’s in math, science, literature, journalism or cake decorating

Many politicians have law degrees, and standard pre-law prep for better schools also requires calculus.

Fact is, up to at least the first year of calculus, and probably the second, the more math you take, the more high-paying careers you can go into. Suggesting that women ignore math and science just means that women should ignore money.

It doesn’t matter whatever path you ultimately choose; the point of education is to offer you the tools to make those choices. Most people won’t study math after college, so that’s the perfect time to take more regardless of major.