Why do girls lose interest in science in middle school?
Girls’ decline in interest begins in middle school for two interdependent reasons. One has to do with the stages of social development of young girls. As they enter puberty, the girls’ sense of self-who they are and how others see them-becomes developmentally salient. Middle school girls are concerned about fitting in; what others think of them, especially their peers, becomes a consuming passion. For many, the prospect of being seen as smart in math and science, a “nerd,” and therefore not attractive to boys discourages them from excelling academically, especially in areas that are seen as the boys’ domain. The second reason, which underscores the first, has to do with the expectations of adults and society in general regarding appropriate activities for girls and boys. In our society, these gender-based expectations become more pronounced in the middle school years as issues of identity-both individual and social-come to the fore. Although societal expectations about gender and other
