She is usually supportive, encouraging, open-minded, kind

1
Girls Math and Science Partnership

• Research Report
• Dyads with Girls aged 11-17
• February 19, 2004

2
Key Influences

• Home
• School
• Extracurricular
• Pop culture

3
Home

• For this generation, home is an extremely
  positive influence
• Mom is often the best friend. She is usually
  supportive, encouraging, open-minded, kind - a
  strong role-model overall
• Family members can be a career role model
• However, most girls reported that the family
  influence is an inspiration, not an expectation

• My Mom is really supportive and we have a close
  relationship. - 13
• My mother is literally my best friend. She
  encourages me in school and in everyday
  activities. - 13
• Family is awesome! - 15

4
School

• The girls are ambivalent about school. Many
  reported that they love learning, but learning in
  school can be repetitive and boring. This is
  particularly true when it comes to math/science
• Teachers play a big role in either engaging the
  girls or disengaging them in a subject at school
• The stereotype of geek is weakening. Its OK
  to be smart, and smart girls can be as friendly
  and pretty as everyone else

• What good do finals do. I just want to go out
  dancing with my boyfriend and friends. - 16
• Though most hate it, life would be so very blasé
  without school. If we didnt have to go, I would
  go anyway. I LOVE to learn. Im a hopeless
  geek, and darn proud of it, too. - 16
• No delay todayhow unfair!!! 12
• Its like being smothered, school. The
  occasional gasp of air, the all-too-infrequent A,
  is all that keeps you alive. - 16
• I usually dont mind school but the best part is
  often just being with my closest friends, Laura
  Ashley. - 15
• Mrs. Xxx is one of the best teachers Ive ever
  had, even though shes not the friendliest. -15

5
Extracurricular Activities

• Most girls have a busy schedule full of
  extracurricular activities
• They are passionate about these activities, which
  they believe give them the opportunity to develop
  their talent, to meet new people, to explore
  life, and to develop their identity
• Many of these activities, i.e. writing,
  practicing sports, music, are learning activities
  rather than leisure. However, they see these
  activities as pleasure, rather than work
• Math/science related activities are
  ostentatiously missing from the mix

• I have been pursuing this course (golfing) since
  I was 8 years old, at my first golf tournament.
  I love golf so much, yet it consumes my after
  school life. If I choose to do anything else
  like the musical, I feel like I am neglecting my
  duties to golf. There is almost a guilt - 15
• On the water, we move as a team, winning
  together and losing together on shore, we cry
  together and laugh together. Later, as the bus
  heaves away from the curb of the boathouse,
  carrying us home, the comfortable silence is
  that of a team who is bound not only by its
  trials and its tribulations but also by its
  personal victories and satisfactions. Yes, this
  could pass for my teenage nirvana. - 15
• I have low self-esteem. Modeling makes me feel
  better about myself. - 16

6
Pop Culture

• The girls are avid consumers of pop culture
• Theyre as keen about grown-up TV content as they
  are about teen magazines
• Their idols reflect who they are, and what they
  aspire to be
• However, their relationship with it is not a
  matter of following but a matter of active
  interaction. Their reactions run from embracing,
  accepting, critiquing and challenging

• Theres so much pressure on women to be hot,
  steamy sex symbols, and I, as shallow as it may
  seem, attempt to fulfill these. - 16
• When you watch Orlando Bloom, you get this
  feeling that he really enjoys what he does, that
  hes meant to be an actor. - 12
• We watched Ed and Third Watch but it was a
  really good show. Other shows I like are One
  Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls, Everwood,
  Forensic Files, Seventh Heaven, and The
  Guardian. - 15
• I am pathetic. I started writing a CSI
  fan-fiction. hangs head in shame - 16
• I love the Truth commercials and what they
  present, finally someone is speaking out against
  tobacco! - 15