To Get Women Into Science, We Have To Act Like We Want Them There

quicklist: curated
quote: “The most powerful determinant of whether a woman goes on in science might be whether anyone encourages her to go on.”
their: THE NEW YORK TIMES
their_title: Why Are There Still So Few Women in Science?
their_url: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/magazine/why-are-there-still-so-few-women-in-science.html?_r=0
their_copy: While boys and men in the United States are encouraged to go after science degrees and careers, few families, counselors or professors encourage girls and women to tough out difficult classes and pursue advanced degrees. Women that didn’t go that route sometimes say the reason is no one suggested it or indicated they should consider the possibility.
theirCTA: Read the full story here
our_copy: In a culture where men overestimate their abilities and women drastically underestimate theirs, we need to tell girls pursuing traditionally male fields, “You can do this.” That’s not just a fluffy sentiment; it could have a profound impact on the number of women who pursue careers in the sciences. When women underestimate their abilities, they are more likely to perform poorly. But studies show that when women are told they are just as capable as men, they perform comparably.

Emily DeRuy is a Washington, D.C.-based associate editor, covering education, reproductive rights, and inequality. A San Francisco native, she enjoys Giants baseball and misses Philz terribly.