re: don't leave the girls out

["Sherry Michael" <_smichael@excite.com>]

I've been wanting to reply to this, but haven't had time the last few days:

I think it's quite obvious why there is a boy-bias toward dinosaurs. I has
nothing to do with museums. How many little boys out there do you know that
had dinosaur wallpaper, nite-lights, toys, books, etc? Now how many young
girls? I even noticed the vast difference in infant wear (I was shopping for
a friend). Boys at 3 months of age are wearing rompers with little dinos on
them and girls had little kitty cats.

>From birth girls are taught through society that dinos are a male interest.
I think it is an inncorrect conclusion to assume that girls are only
interested in reproduction (not that Ralph said that) and warm and fuzzy
dino topics. We have taught them that dinosaurs, cars, space ships and most
sciences and technological subjects are for boys only.

I think this is best demonstrated by what I think of as my most significant
contribution to paleontology to date. I was teaching a girl scout troop a
class on dinosaurs at the museum. After the show, a little girl came up to
me and to my shock stated that she thought only men were paleontogists. I
was the first woman "in the field" that she had ever seen or heard of.

This bothers me on two levels. 1) To think in this day and age, when we
think we have come so far girls still think there are things they cannot do
because of gender and 2)we have to work a lot harder trying to give girls
(and all children) good role models in science.

So, finally, my suggestion would be try to make sure that the museum
showcases scientists and has docents and teachers of both genders. I know
this reaks of "political correctness" which I hate, but giving children role
models that they can relate to is more important that some political scheme
not to make anyone angry.

-Sherry
-Sherry Michael 

 




>-----Original Message-----
>From: Ralph W. Miller III [mailto:gbabcock@best.com]
>Regarding Ann Rock's concerns over the "fighting male dinosaur
>bias" in dinosaur exhibits and education (as relayed by list >member Don
Lamson), I would have to say that, yes, there is >certainly something for
girls who want to learn about female >side of dinosaurs, or at least the
"kinder, gentler"
>aspects of dinosaur behavior.





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