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Eliminating the Gender Achievement Gap

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Eliminating the Gender Achievement Gap

ELIMINATING THE GENDER ACHIEVEMENT GAP

Preconceived notions of what boys and girls can and cannot do will have negative effects on both genders. Parents who allow their sons to misbehave and say “boys will be boys” not only damage their view of themselves but it does not teach them the consequences of right and wrong. Telling a boy “big boys do not cry” may create an emotionally stunted boy. Society allows girls to express their emotions but boys must keep them inside. While society does not blink an eye when a boy aspires to becoming an auto mechanic or a girl a stay at home mom, the converse brings discomfort, ridicule, much discussion and even embarrassment for the families. Research shows women have made tremendous gains in the last few decades; however, it is still difficult for them to obtain equality. According to an article from the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, women make up almost half of all actively employed people in the work force yet; they earn, on average, 23% less than their male counterparts holding the same position (Hegewisch & Hudiburg, 2013, para.1). The pace has been so slow that if it continues at this same rate, it will take over 40 years before women will earn the same salary as men in the same positions (Hegewisch & Hudiburg, 2013, para. 2). What causes this phenomenon? Is it nature or nurture? Is it something that begins in the womb or the formative years? The American Psychological Association reports that even though there is no evidence women poses inferior skills in science and mathematics they continue to remain underrepresented in careers requiring advance degrees or knowledge in those subject areas (Azar, 2010, p. 40). Azar goes on to cite research by the University of Wisconsin psychologist Janet Hyde, PhD. who claims it is a lack of

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