Are girls really good at literature, boys are good at math?

Most people think that girls are good at literature and boys are good at math, but recent research shows that this is not the case because boys and girls are equally skilled at math.

A new scientific study published in the journal NPJ Science of Learning shows that girls and boys have the same brains and ability to learn math, eliminating the prejudice that women have a "tendency" to study literature more often. learn math worse than men - Photo: HealthLine

One thing that is quite strange but very common, is that the social committee classes are usually more girls than the natural committee classes. Human resources working in the fields of natural sciences and social sciences also have a significant gender difference.

To clarify whether biological differences affect women's mathematical ability, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (USA) conducted experiments on 104 children (55 of them is a girl) ages 3-10.

They graphed their brain activity with an MRI scanner and showed them a math education video like counting and adding, and then compared their brain activity results with 63 adults (38 boys, 25 women) also watch similar videos.

The results showed no difference between the function or brain development of boys and girls. The results of each child's math ability test performed equally well, regardless of gender.

Later when your daughter is discouraged by a difficult problem, be patient to help her study and eliminate the thought that "boys are better at math" - (Image: nerdymamma.com)

According to the researchers, there has been a debate in the scientific and biological differences in mathematical ability and activities in STEM field for many years (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). learn).

In the US alone, from 2015 to 2016, the number of female students studying STEM subjects accounted for only 35.5%, 32.6% of master's courses and 33.7% at doctoral level. This situation takes place all over the world.

"Although this is not a large study, its results suggest that the idea that women are not as good at math as men is unscientific," said Jessica Cantlon, a professor of developmental neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University. .

Even a study by the University of Erasmus Rotterdam (Netherlands) earlier this year showed that girls maintain good math performance for a longer time than boys.

" Natural sciences have traditionally been viewed as a weak spot for women. Many argue that they are more gifted in social research. The scientific findings suggest they are gender bias . In fact, men and women equally capable , " said Matthijs Oosterveen, researcher, Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands).

The researchers hope this will change the long-held stereotypes of gender and learning ability, arguing that women are more "inclined" to study literature than math. That thinking can affect the way parents, teachers teach students, and how employers in the field of science - math evaluate and treat women.

"We need to be aware of this wrong thinking so as not to cause gender inequality," Professor Cantlon said.