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Why DonWhy Don’’t They Hear What It They Hear What ISay?Say?
Pat Campbell and Jennifer WeismanPat Campbell and Jennifer WeismanCampbell-Kibler AssociatesCampbell-Kibler Associates
www.FairerScience.orgwww.FairerScience.orgcampbell@[email protected]
National Girls Collaborative WebcastNational Girls Collaborative WebcastJanuary 9, 2008January 9, 2008
National Girls Collaborative Project
The National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP)brings together organizations that are committed toinforming and encouraging girls to pursue careers inscience, technology, engineering, and mathematics(STEM). www.ngcproject.org
Regional CollaborativesCalifornia: www.ngcproject.org/californiaFlorida: www.ngcproject.org/floridaNorth Carolina: www.ngcproject.org/northcarolinaNorthwest: www.ngcproject.org/northwest
Project Goals
1. Maximize access to shared resources withinprojects and with public and private sectororganizations and institutions interested inexpanding girls’ participation in STEM.
2. Strengthen capacity of existing and evolvingprojects by sharing promising practice researchand program models, outcomes and products.
3. Use the leverage of a network or collaboration ofindividual girl-serving STEM programs to createthe tipping point for gender equity in STEM.
Gender: Perceptions and RealitiesGender: Perceptions and Realities
People’s ideas about gender are deeply embedded, longlasting, and complex. These ideas are a complicated mix ofbeliefs about the way the world is, the way the world shouldbe, and the way we should be in the world. Counter-evidence often fails to change people’s ideas.
So What Can We Do?So What Can We Do?
• Make sure we have the facts
• Understand that words matter
• Examine the frames we are giving ourmessages
• See how we can influence media
So What Can We Do?
Make Sure We Have the FactsMake Sure We Have the Facts
Course taking:• More girls than boys complete courses in advanced
biology, Advanced Placement (AP) or InternationalBaccalaureate (IB) biology, and chemistry
• Boys complete physics and AP/IB physics coursesat higher rates than girls
• There are no sex differences in mathematicscoursetaking
Achievement:Sex differences in math and science achievement are
small but favor boys in most cases
So What Can We Do?
Make Sure We Have the FactsMake Sure We Have the Facts
Mean differencesDifferences between individual girls or between individualboys are much greater than those between the “average”girl and the “average” boy.
So What Can We Do?
Understand That Words MatterUnderstand That Words Matter
Words and the concepts and social divisions they invoke canevoke strong emotions. The words we use may not be thewords others hear.
Consider:gender vs. sex
illegal alien vs. undocumented immigrantAfrican American vs. Black
STEM vs. sciencelady vs. womangirl vs. woman
stereotype vs. imagemath vs. mathematics
comparison vs. control groups
So What Can We Do?
Understand That Words MatterUnderstand That Words Matter
Develop a sense of your audience. When you craft a message,be sure you know who your ultimate audience will be.
Do your homework. Find out as much as you can about thekinds of words commonly used and avoided by your targetaudience and what emotions, divisions, and concepts thesewords evoke.
Anticipate pitfalls. For your audience, is it more important thatyou sound authoritative or approachable? Are there particularparts of your message that are likely to trigger negativereactions? Let your word choices help you avoid or navigatethese dangers.
.
So What Can We Do?
Examine the Frames We Are Giving OurExamine the Frames We Are Giving OurMessagesMessages
Group 1: Write down some words you would use toaccurately describe engineering if you want to attractmore women to the field.
Group 2: Write down some words you would use toaccurately describe engineering if you want to attractmore men to the field.
So What Can We Do?
Examine the Frames We Are Giving OurExamine the Frames We Are Giving OurMessagesMessages
Possible Women in Science frames include:
• Individual economic self-sufficiency• International competitiveness• Fairness• The girl crisis vs. the boy crisis• Helping girls helps boys• Girls in need of help• Girls as discriminated against
So What Can We Do?
See How We Can Influence MediaSee How We Can Influence Media
Annalee Newtiz on reporting science and gender:[W]e need quotes from you, we need anecdotes, we needpeople. That's how we get people interested….often timeseditors believe that the masses relate best to stereotypicalindividuals, so we want to see stereotypical images of menand women. …many science stories are structured aroundthe idea of a conflict because people like conflict. [Editorsthink] we like to see people fighting.
So What Can We Do?
See How We Can Influence MediaSee How We Can Influence Media
Remember:
Journalists are storytellers. They care about your work, but they also careabout the human reaction. Be able to explain why your work is important andwhy the average reader/listener should care.
Journalists need quotes from people, not from publications. Most journalistsaren't going to be allowed to quote your written work. You need to beavailable to speak with them.
Journalists are interested in broader impacts. If your work is funded by NSF,you already have some ideas as to what the broader impact is. Draw onthose ideas in your interview.
Different media have different requirements. In print, people read and canread again. In radio, they listen and only listen once. In TV, they listen andview. Your statements need to reflect different ways of delivering andreceiving information.
We need to:We need to:
• Make sure we have the facts
• Understand that words matter
• Examine the frames we are giving ourmessages
• See how we can influence media
Using Blogs To Encourage GirlsUsing Blogs To Encourage GirlsToward Science CareersToward Science Careers
Jennifer Weisman and Pat CampbellJennifer Weisman and Pat CampbellCampbell-Kibler AssociatesCampbell-Kibler Associates
www.FairerScience.orgwww.FairerScience.orgjweisman@[email protected]
National Girls Collaborative WebcastNational Girls Collaborative WebcastJanuary 9, 2008January 9, 2008
Why Blogs? TheyWhy Blogs? They……
…Are a source of women in science role models.
…Show realities of the lives of women inscience.
…Provide interesting science content.
…Show what scientists do.
…Build sense of community, encourage problem-solving, and reduce isolation.
…Help us meet girls “where they're at.”
Types of Women and Science BlogsTypes of Women and Science BlogsBlogs of a scientistBlogs of a scientist’’s work lifes work life
e.g. Rants of a Feminist Engineer e.g. Rants of a Feminist Engineerfeministengineer.blogspot.comfeministengineer.blogspot.com//
Blogs of women balancing science careers and kidsBlogs of women balancing science careers and kidse.g. On Being a Scientist and a Womane.g. On Being a Scientist and a Womanscienceblogs.com/sciencewomanscienceblogs.com/sciencewoman//
Blogs of exciting scienceBlogs of exciting sciencee.g. Cocktail Party Physicse.g. Cocktail Party Physicswww.twistedphysics.typepad.com/www.twistedphysics.typepad.com/Antarctic Journal Antarctic Journal antarcticjournal.blogspot.comantarcticjournal.blogspot.com//
Compilations of women and science blogsCompilations of women and science blogse.g. Scientiae Carnival e.g. Scientiae Carnival http://scientiae-http://scientiae-carnival.blogspot.comcarnival.blogspot.com//
A Scientist's Life: Academia
Rants of a Feminist EngineerRants of a Feminist Engineer
““II’’m a new engineering faculty member with a lefty-leaning, anm a new engineering faculty member with a lefty-leaning, anaddiction to locally-sourced food, a penchant for singing, andaddiction to locally-sourced food, a penchant for singing, anda minor in women's studies.a minor in women's studies.
““I hope that more women choose to become engineersI hope that more women choose to become engineersbecause of how I teach engineering, or some such link that isbecause of how I teach engineering, or some such link that isoverly ambitious and probably overly ambitious and probably unmeasurableunmeasurable. However, I also. However, I alsohope they go into engineering because engineering becomes ahope they go into engineering because engineering becomes abetter place to be, in a whole set of ways. In academicbetter place to be, in a whole set of ways. In academiccontexts, I hope engineering can become a place wherecontexts, I hope engineering can become a place wherestudents - men and women - can engage their whole selves,students - men and women - can engage their whole selves,become galvanized to improve the world for the better, learn tobecome galvanized to improve the world for the better, learn tobecome informed citizens who participate and serve theirbecome informed citizens who participate and serve theircommunities both through their engineering practice and ascommunities both through their engineering practice and asthemselves.themselves.””
A Scientist's Life: Balancing Science & Family
On Being a Scientist and a WomanOn Being a Scientist and a Woman
““I share my life as the mother of a spunky seven-month oldI share my life as the mother of a spunky seven-month oldgirl who has already girl who has already ‘‘helpedhelped’’ with field work and seminars. I with field work and seminars. Idescribe the dramas of being a first-year assistantdescribe the dramas of being a first-year assistantprofessor, scrambling to write lectures and grant proposalsprofessor, scrambling to write lectures and grant proposalsand figure out what and figure out what ‘‘serviceservice’’ means, while trying to be means, while trying to behome for a little playtime before my daughter's 7 pmhome for a little playtime before my daughter's 7 pmbedtime. I write blog posts while pumping bedtime. I write blog posts while pumping breastmilkbreastmilk and andstrategize research ideas over the course of 2 amstrategize research ideas over the course of 2 amfeedingsfeedings……..
““I don't pretend to be an expert on women in scienceI don't pretend to be an expert on women in scienceissues. I don't profess to have all the answers. I just followissues. I don't profess to have all the answers. I just followthe old adage - I write about what I know. And right now, Ithe old adage - I write about what I know. And right now, Iknow that I have to finish preparing for my lecture and writeknow that I have to finish preparing for my lecture and writea few more sentences of my grant proposal, becausea few more sentences of my grant proposal, becausesometime in the next hour, my daughter is going to wake upsometime in the next hour, my daughter is going to wake upand want her mommy.and want her mommy.””
Bringing Excitement to Science
Cocktail Party Physics: Physics With A TwistCocktail Party Physics: Physics With A Twist
“I relish the challenge of sharing the continually unfoldingstory of physics with those like my former physics-phobicself, who quail at the first sight of a mathematical equationand prefer, say, Stephen King to Stephen Hawking. If I canmake it fun, funky, unconventional, and blur the linesbetween traditional disciplines -- both within the sciencesthemselves, and science and the arts/pop culture -- somuch the better. We need fewer barriers and more bridgesin this world.”
Bringing Excitement to Science
Antarctic JournalAntarctic Journal
““I write this journal from Ross Island, Antarctica, where I'mI write this journal from Ross Island, Antarctica, where I'mworking on my graduate research project on the foragingworking on my graduate research project on the foragingecology of ecology of AdelieAdelie Penguins. Penguins.””
Photo Copyright: Viola Toniolo, used with permission, http://antarcticjournal.b logspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html
Bringing Women and Science Blogs Together
ScientiaeScientiae Carnival Carnival
Scientiae Carnival is a blog carnival that compiles posts writtenabout the broad topic of “women in STEM,” including:• Stories about being a woman in STEM• Exploring gender and STEM academia• Living the scientific academic life as well as the rest of life• Discussing how race, sexuality, age, nationality and other
social categories intersect with the experience of being awoman in STEM
• Sharing feminist perspectives on science and technology• Exploring feminist science and technology studies
Next StepsNext Steps
• Check out more Women in Science blogs
• Look for exciting, relevant, and timely topics
• Comment on blog posts
• Write guest posts for blogs
• Create an individual or group blog
• “Science Up” your existing online presence
• And of course, keep it fun
Photo Credit: anomalous4, http://flickr.com/photos/31333486@N00/1869573011/in/pool-lolscience/
FairerScienceFairerScience Resources Resources
Words Matter: Speaking and Writing About Gender and Sciencewww.fairerscience.org/WordsMatter.htmlWhy Don’t They Hear What I Say? Understanding Gender Ideologies(Multimedia Presentation)www.fairerscience.org/pages/kathryn_1_1.htmlKISI (Keep it Simple and Interesting): Journalists’ Advice to Researcherswww.fairerscience.org/kisi.htmlKICI (Keep it Careful and Intelligent): Researchers’ Advice About Journalistswww.fairerscience.org/kici.html
Highlighted BlogsHighlighted Blogs
Rants of a Feminist Engineer* feministengineer.blogspot.com/On Being a Scientist and a Woman scienceblogs.com/sciencewoman/Cocktail Party Physics* www.twistedphysics.typepad.com/Antarctic Journal antarcticjournal.blogspot.com/Scientiae Carnival scientiae-carnival.blogspot.com/
Blogs marked with * occasionally use language that would have gotten Pat'sBlogs marked with * occasionally use language that would have gotten Pat's mouth washed out with soap when she was a child. mouth washed out with soap when she was a child.
Women in Science BlogsWomen in Science BlogsLife as a Woman Scientist:Life as a Woman Scientist:Female Science Professor http://science-professor.blogspot.com/Dr. Medusa http://www.doctormedusa.com/The Happy Scientist http://thehappyscientistblog.blogspot.com/A Chemist's Laboratory Notebook http://chemistrylabnotebook.blogspot.com/Eastern Blot* http://science.easternblot.net/Kate's Casebook http://katescasebook.wordpress.com/A Lady Scientist http://biochemgradstudent.blogspot.com/Pondering Pikaia* http://sunaddict86.blogspot.com/Eye on DNA* http://www.eyeondna.com/about/KBlog by Kimberly Blessing* http://www.kimberlyblessing.com/
Balancing Science and FamilyBalancing Science and Family::Dr. Mom, My Adventures as a Mommy-Scientist http://mommyscientist.blogspot.com/Mother of All Scientists* http://motherofallscientists.blogspot.com/See Jane Compute* http://seejanecompute.blogspot.com/Tales of a Traveling Professor http://boringdrmom.blogspot.com/Mom Seeks Tenure http://momseekstenure.blogspot.com/
Making Science Exciting:Making Science Exciting:Bioephemera* http://bioephemera.com/Kathryn’s SPT Journey http://southpoletelescope.uchicago.edu/blog/kathryn/index.htmlScience to Life http://scienceblogs.com/sciencetolife/VWXYNot? http://vwxynot.blogspot.com/The Culture of Chemistry http://cultureofchemistry.blogspot.com/Star Stryder* http://www.starstryder.com/Chaotic Utopia* http://scienceblogs.com/chaoticutopia/
A Source of Science BlogsA Source of Science Blogs::Science Blogs http://scienceblogs.com/
* Blogs marked with * occasionally use language that would have gotten Pat's mouth washed out with soap when she was a* Blogs marked with * occasionally use language that would have gotten Pat's mouth washed out with soap when she was achild.child.
More NGCP InformationProgram Directorywww.ngcproject.org/directory
Join the NGCP listservwww.ngcproject.org/resources/newsletter.html
Upcoming WebcastWednesday, February 13, 2008, 11:00-12:00 PST“Reaching out to Underserved Populations in STEM”
www.ngcproject.org/events/webcast.cfm
