Girls’ Angle
Ken Fan is running a math club for girls in Cambridge, MA, called “Girls’ Angle”. When I heard about it, my first reaction was surprise. When I was a girl, I would never have been interested in a girls-only math club.
Am I prejudiced? When I was growing up in Russia, there were not very many girls who were really good at mathematics. I would have expected that a girls’ math club would be less challenging than just a math club.
What if someone organized a boys-only math club? I would have been furious. I would have felt it was discriminatory. Should I then feel an equivalent fury about the girls’ club? But I do not feel furious, and I wonder why. Is it because deep down I think no boy would bother being interested in joining a girls’ math club? Is it because I still think a girls’ club would be weaker than a general club? I do not know.
At the same time I agree with Ken, for there are a variety of reasons why girls might prefer a girls-only club. For example, shy girls might feel more comfortable with girls or some girls might feel better able to concentrate without the distractions of boys. In some cases, the parents might have made the decision.
Obviously, since the club has students, there is a demand for it. If there is a demand, there should be a supply. I will support anything that works and helps improve American math education. I even volunteered to give a guest lecture at Girls’ Angle.
Was my lecture at the girls’ club different from my other lectures? Yes, in a way. I asked the girls to help me to finish a sequence. I started writing 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, on the board and no one was shouting the next number. In great surprise I turned back to face the class and saw a forest of raised hands. They patiently waited for my permission to speak. Yes, it felt different.
I decided to check the pricing. It appears that the girls club is twice as cheap as other math clubs, like The Math Circle or S.M.Art School. I can’t help but wonder if the girls are signing up at the Girls’ Angle not because they want to study in the girls-only group, but because it is cheaper.
I am glad that Ken Fan is good at finding sponsors and that there are so many people sympathizing with his cause. However, this situation does seem unfair to boys. Should I be furious that boys are not allowed in this very affordable math club? I do not feel furious, but I decided not to give any more lectures at Girls’ Angle for free. At least not until I give a free lecture to a mixed-gender math club. I want to be fair.
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Tamar the Math Teacher:
Hmmmm? I am the new sponsor of a Math Club for Girls at my High School and though the name of the club may have others think that the club is only for girls, but I actually told one boy in my class that he could join if he wanted to but the purpose is to encourage girls to continue in math and to pursue majors in college that would lead to careers in mathematics and related fields. So I wonder if the Girl’s Angle is kind of the same thing – that the club is for all who would have the interest in encouraging girls in math…
In the spring I will be getting women to speak to our girls as well and I would hate for any of them to think what you are thinking concerning the club.
Just my thoughts…
22 November 2008, 7:08 pmTanya Khovanova:
Tamar,
22 November 2008, 7:42 pmNow that I am teaching at AMSA charter school I see that girls need to be encouraged. For some reason many girls think that they are not good at math, when in reality they are very good.
A. Leverkuhn:
Dear Tanya,
Why is it that the exact address of the ‘Girl’s Angle’ club is only given out to the
participants who have registered. Are the organisers worried about some kind
of violent misogynist reprisal — akin to an abortion clinic bombing ? It seems
ridiculous and unfortunately this self-preserving, seperatist, and feminist (?)
attitude makes women (and girls) who are doing mathematics look more
cultural invaders.
regards, A. Leverkuhn
22 March 2009, 3:50 amTanya Khovanova:
Dear A.
I am not running the club, and I agree with you that hiding the address is strange.
22 March 2009, 6:12 am