Perceptions of Girls’ Math Abilities

Teaching mathematics to young girls often invokes perceptions around inherent ability, gender, and influences that contribute to a gap between boys and girls with regard to math achievement. Moreover, lived teaching experiences indicate that there is a strong affective component to students’ encounters in schools, which may affect children’s perceptions of their capabilities. The authors address intersecting issues that interact with gender inequalities surrounding girls and mathematics: math self-concepts, gender stereotypes, parental involvement, and influences from teachers and curriculum. In this paper, stories about teaching girls from a mathematics teacher’s perspective are interwoven with research literature to strengthen recommendations for change in the areas of gender, teacher education, STEM careers, and intersectional understanding.