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In his 2005 speech at the National Bureau of Economic Research luncheon, former Harvard University president Larry Summers stated that there are more men than women in the fields of science and maths due to ‘innate abilities’ acquired by men to perform such tasks that women lacked.
Understandably, he received a lot of backlash after making that statement.
Studies have shown that women tend to be less involved in STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) jobs and will most likely pursue careers in media, human resources, teaching and nursing.
A new Verizon ad interrogates this reality.
The video shows a girl’s development from her childhood to her teenage years. As a growing toddler she enjoys exploring nature and trying out science experiments with her older brother.
But her efforts at learning and developing her talents are deterred by her parents who constantly remind her that she’s just a girl and girls should always look pretty and not do things that could potentially harm them. She should rather leave that to her older brother.
The video shows us how negative gender stereotypes can threaten a child’s future and the way they view life.
The parents in the video never comment on the child’s intellectual abilities or entertain her interests. Instead, they focus more on her looks and how she ‘should’ act as a girl.
It ends with the question: Isn’t time we told her she’s pretty brilliant, too?
Follow Women24 on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
Understandably, he received a lot of backlash after making that statement.
Studies have shown that women tend to be less involved in STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) jobs and will most likely pursue careers in media, human resources, teaching and nursing.
A new Verizon ad interrogates this reality.
The video shows a girl’s development from her childhood to her teenage years. As a growing toddler she enjoys exploring nature and trying out science experiments with her older brother.
But her efforts at learning and developing her talents are deterred by her parents who constantly remind her that she’s just a girl and girls should always look pretty and not do things that could potentially harm them. She should rather leave that to her older brother.
The video shows us how negative gender stereotypes can threaten a child’s future and the way they view life.
The parents in the video never comment on the child’s intellectual abilities or entertain her interests. Instead, they focus more on her looks and how she ‘should’ act as a girl.
It ends with the question: Isn’t time we told her she’s pretty brilliant, too?
Follow Women24 on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
