When I was growing up, there were games that were played by girls, and games that were reserved for boys. You are going to be ostracized if your gang sees you playing with girls, even if you play the driver in their pretend house.
In the 80s and 90s, education theorists sounded the alarm that learning patterns between girls and boys differ significantly: girls were more proficient in English and Art, while boys were more into Mathematics and Science. The differences in learning patterns were said to be the reason why girls shy away from mathematics in school, and eventually prevented them from pursuing math and science intensive college courses like engineering.
Later, with the increasing proliferation of computers in classrooms, it leads one to wonder if the same learning differences may be seen in both boys and girls. Statistics showed that by the end of the 1980s, more than 95% of all American schools owned at least one computer. By the start of this millennium, all schools owned at least one computer, while 98% of these computers were already connected to the Internet.
More than that, some subjects in school are augmented by computer-based tutorials and educational computer programs. This kind of scenario puts girls at a disadvantage, since numerous studies over the years have found that girls are more prone to have “computer anxiety,” an apprehension or averse reactions to using a computer or computer-related technologies.
The problem with girls shying away from computers is said to be prevalent, and has been seen to occur across cultures, over time and within any age group, race, or any other variable. In short, a girl would be more likely to shy away from using computers than a boy of the same age, gender, situation and milieu. Studies have also found that girls tend to use the computer less and less as they grow older, while boys display the opposite pattern.
What is happening is the digital age equivalent of a gender divide that we are imposing on our children, and negatively affects little girls than boys. And it makes an important point that the educational software we have now may not be as effective that we think it is. Moreover, the educational software that we buy for our kids, may even turn them off, making them shy away from computers in general and not just that particular software.
In the future, most of our tasks will be done with the help of the computer. What our little girls don’t need is another barrier that would keep them from keeping pace with their male counterparts.
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