Innumerate Women
By Nicole Campbell
(Posted Dec 22, 2208)
Imagine the world the way it was four hundred years ago. Imagine that
young men were encouraged to learn to read and write while women were
not allowed. The woman's place was in the home and the mark of
refinement was to know no skills of any value. This was a time when it
was a shock if a woman knew how to read and write. Can you imagine such
a thing in today's world? NO! Such ideas are backwards. If a woman were
to admit to you that she didn't read well and her writing was awful, not
because of a learning disorder, but because she just hated to do it and
she has better things to do you would rightfully consider her idiotic.
Why is it so accepted then, that women do not like to do math? Shouldn't
innumeracy be considered just as egregious? It's supposed to be charming
when a young woman behind a counter giggles and claims that she is no
good with figures when she is attempting to count out your change. If
this were to happen with a male, the reaction would be disgust. Flighty
bimbos across the world have accepted the maxim that women use a
different part of their brains than men, that they are good with
language and art, and men are better with logic and math. Just like a
century ago when African Americans were considered inferior in
everything except music and dance. They didn't buy it then so why should
we buy it now?
I have a degree in math. I took the hardest, most abstract math classes
available and was often the only woman in the class. I usually did
better than the men who were there as graduate students. I'm not
advocating that everyone have an advanced education in math, but
knowledge of at least algebra should be a given, just like reading and
writing is a given. I have tutored women in mathematics through college
and have seen them break down in tears because all of a sudden the cute
"I'm helpless" routine won't cut it. They are convinced they just can't
do math. Grow up. Dry your damn tears and apply yourself. If you can't
work out basic percentages and make change in your head, you're
innumerate. Do something about it.
