Plenty of data shows that gender has no affect on math ability, but the damaging misconception that females just aren’t naturally good at math keeps young ladies from pursuing the subject — and from joining our math-related careers. This article also talks about a few ways the negative stareotype could be counteracted: public campaigns against it, attracting girls to careers that would encourage them to study math, and encouraging girls to work together in classes.

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Check out Tufts University’s Nerd Girls! These women are all about making a difference and breaking stereotypes by embracing smarts, math, science, and technology while maintaining an equal hold on their femininity.  Visit the Nerd Girls webpage to see them featured on the Today Show and in Newsweek.

From the Nerd Girls site:

“The first Nerd Girls Club by Dr. Karen Panetta, a professor at Tufts University, to empower her female engineering students and challenge the stereotypes and myths about women in engineering. While considered a maverick for starting Nerd Girls, Dr. Panetta has been instrumental in shifting attitudes about women engineers. Panetta has partnered with documentary filmmakers Paola di Florio and Karen Johnson to extend the reach of Nerd Girls utilizing film, television and web media.”

Additional information on the Nerd Girls can also be found on the Tufts site.

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