Everyone knows boys are smarter than girls when it comes to math. Right? Well, not so fast. Apparently no one told today’s girls.
Research recently published in the journal Science suggests that whatever gender gap once existed between boys and girls in standardized math tests is largely gone now. “Girls have now achieved gender parity,” says Janet Hide, a researcher from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Experts say girls’ newfound math equality has a couple of possible explanations. One, researchers suggest many standardized tests never adequately tested for complex problem-solving—skills at which girls may naturally do better. Two, many teachers, who are aware of the gender gap, have been concentrating more heavily on helping their female students along.
(USA Today)
