I've noticed the same thing over the years. My best subjects in school were math and science. I also have the same problem with poetry. I almost failed language arts because of it. The thing that bugged me was when I came home with a stellar score from NYSMA (a statewide music competition) my mother (who was once a MENSA member) told everyone for months. When I took third place in a statewide math competition, she said "good job" and never mentioned it again.
I'm hoping that the younger generations, being closer to gender equality, will not have so much of a problem.
Sent from Nicole's iPad
On Apr 2, 2011, at 10:56 AM, "bj" <bjones44@verizon.net> wrote:
> Which for some strange reason seems to be almost a source of *pride* for
> some people -- but they'd never be so proud of not being able to read. Just
> listen to the tone you often hear used when someone says "Oh, I'm no good at
> math!", like it's some sort of accomplishment or something.
>
> The looks I got, especially as a girl, when I actually *admitted* to being
> "good at math" were often at best pitying ("poor child") & often like "how
> odd". It certaily seemed to be considered "unfeminine" -- & is still seen as
> a bit of an anomaly (note the tone in press coverage when a girl does well
> in some sort of math or science fair or competition.)
>
> My personal "not good at" was always "interpretation of poetry" which
> I guess young ladies were supposed to be good at.
> bj
> p.s. I am not *not* NOT referring to anyone in particular, it's just
> something I've noticed over the years.
