Physics, chem and biology are dominated by women at the 'number of students' level around here. (I'm not sure about math -- I know that physics was male-dominated when my elder brothers studied it, and I know that changed, but I don't have math people now to find out the other.)
I do think that science gets an unfair rep in highschool -- we're not taught science properly. They just tell you stuff that seems either random or too common-sense, and then make you memorize it. That's not science.
I know of a camp (a physics prof from the university was involved) that basically took high-school kids and ask them basic physics questions. They learnt physics by finding out the answers, by themselves, with experiments. That is science, and I bet those kids loved it.
I also talk a lot with my now 18yo and 14yo cousins. They say they don't like science, a lot, and have said it since they were little. But they ask me tons of stuff about reality (either biology or chem seems to interest them more), and they hear and remember the answers.
I do think that an emphasis on women in science would've made it easier for me to picture me actually working at it. I still have trouble with it and assume the few boys around know more than I do (not true always!).
no subject
I do think that science gets an unfair rep in highschool -- we're not taught science properly. They just tell you stuff that seems either random or too common-sense, and then make you memorize it. That's not science.
I know of a camp (a physics prof from the university was involved) that basically took high-school kids and ask them basic physics questions. They learnt physics by finding out the answers, by themselves, with experiments. That is science, and I bet those kids loved it.
I also talk a lot with my now 18yo and 14yo cousins. They say they don't like science, a lot, and have said it since they were little. But they ask me tons of stuff about reality (either biology or chem seems to interest them more), and they hear and remember the answers.
I do think that an emphasis on women in science would've made it easier for me to picture me actually working at it. I still have trouble with it and assume the few boys around know more than I do (not true always!).