The girl who hunted the Mammoet: ideas to open the female view of science from childhood

Mam, the prehistoric girls have never gone to hunt?, Aspicaz the girl who starts studying the case in children.

In this respect it can be discussed, but they will hardly appear represented or in the cave paintings of their books or in the illustrations or videos that will explain the origin of humanity. In fact, the dilemma was not raised until a team of scientists found the grave of a 19 -year -old hunter in the Andes in 2020. This forced to revise the in strength of the theories and to verify dozens of deposits of that time. The conclusion resonated worldwide: no, Not only men were hunters in ancient times.

The neolithic girl was probably easier to break down her mammoth than to the current society to do the same with this large stereotype. To do this, more than thunderous headlines, Reformulating a whole culture. The person who has erased the woman from scientific performance, from the historical story, of certain roles … to undertake the path of this change with various initiatives, dates such as today, intervention day of women and girls in science.

The end of the gender gap in scientific and technological careers is a complex problem with many conditions. But one of the aspects that should be considered could be Fall the same origin of the caseThat is, how you should awaken the scientific calling of childhood girls – or not to cut it.

Lorena Fernández Álvarez, Digital Identity Director of the University of Deesto, and Cintia Refojo, responsible for the educational unit of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (Fecyt), two professionals devoted to this task, contribute to this list of ideas that apply in the following environment.

Lorena Fernández says that if the ‘glass roofs’ take place in the work world, the ‘Glass Hallen’ are on the path of teenagers. She Aim the vocations on traditional roles (Humanities, care, medicine, teachers …) subtle, instead of male sectors such as technology, science or engineering. But there are ways to ‘pierce’ them to get them off the track. If?

Science is born of curiosity and research, whether it is used in the field, requires creative being. Paths are investigated in these disciplines to find extraordinary solutions. This, which is essentially a scientist, has more to do with an attitude that has been encouraged since his youth than with the studies. «You have to encourage girls to be brave; not to be perfect. Remove their fear of making mistakes, stains! And do not limit them by their appearance, let them take a closer look at all house devices … Science and technology are based on exploration, “says Fernández. That courage is the basis of trust, one of the great hanging topics. A recent study has shown that that At 6 years they are already less capable Then children in topics such as mathematics. “An” impostor syndrome “against whom – avisa fernández – many fight throughout life.” Refojo, on the other hand, emphasizes «The messages without evil of the family or teaching staff who attribute unconscious skills to children: They are praised that they are employees The children, immediately, who are ready ». Here ‘The Pigmalion Effect’ comes into play. This is, If you think they are capable of in a field, they will strive and be able to be. But also on the contrary.

This aspect connects with language, or better, what we have subtly communicated with the way to express ideas. Something that also requires assessment. The comparisons stand out here. In addition to hateful, they are sometimes discriminatory. «Do not tell him that he can be as good as a child in mathematics, because you are already placing her in inferiority. The right thing is to say that boys and girls can be good in mathematics, ”is an example of fecyt. She also notes that the challenge of attracting female scientific calls is structured as a problem they have And that they have to overcome. “When the problem can have the problem,” Zanja.

When it comes to scientists, the form of children will take a stereotype that is deeply picked up: Lord, white, elderly, with white fur, isolated in a laboratory between copies and a half chifled. To combat this image, both experts agree to change the expression ‘scientifically’ by ‘doing science’. «You have to make it clear that they can be the way they want, look like this because you are not going to be something; You are going to do something that also deals, “notes the small control specialist.

To see all those things that can be done, you must discover the scientific content of daily life. From explaining that your tap tok requires a program, to how your valuable mobile works, through the chemistry of your favorite dish. «I think it explains badly what can be dedicated in the future if they choose this path. One way to generate calls is Show the social use of science. Are we going to do drones? Let’s explain that we will send humanitarian aid in floods, “Fernández quotes. Refojo also claims that the activities are Focused on their interests. «If we are going to program, let’s not do it to move a car; But to help To the people In his life, Parapegics to move dyslexically to read ».

This task to show that science is in everything – and in total – works at home and at school and, they say, it is not necessary to be a scientist to do well. It is about ‘cultural backpack’ of the girls’ elements that these disciplines have to throw in as protagonists. “Must Give them the opportunity to relate to it. Sometimes the mistake is made by omitting, “he says Refoco. This influences everything: from the TV series to extracurricular. “If we concentrate on ballet and never try the programming, they will hardly be passionate about this world,” adds Fernández. And what do we do with Disney? Far from this cultural giant? Youtube programs for children about physical experiments And chemicals that look more like magic than something else. «I remember a study conducted by the Institut de Gendre in the media, by actress Gina Davis, in which it was seen how a percentage of the women investigated 11 years old when the file was published, X had chosen a scientific career Inspired by Dana Scully»Dusto’s expert quotes. You can’t be what you can’t see.

The problem is that “we have few references.” And maybe they are not always the most motivating or they are very far. Cintia Refojo believes that there is a danger to always present scientists as extraordinary, as heroines … “Perhaps the best example to inspire should not be Marie Curie, who literally sacrificed her life,” he reflects. It’s earlier Search for further examplesBeyond the few Nobel Prizes, to prevent the idea from transferring that the “super brilliant and very striving for impossible tasks” – Añade Fernández – to devote themselves to these stem races. “It’s true that,” we have disappeared from the photos of many historical achievements, “he adds, but is on the way to correct this.” In Textbooks -Punta refojo – there is much to do, “for example.

And from books to play, so important in education and the appearance of prejudices at very early centuries. The two specialists recommend opening at a very young age for other entertainment. There is Programming toysYou can accompany to make video games after YouTube tutorials, experiments, etc. Of course the most important age in the passage is to secondary. In the phase of the definition of identity and decisions it will be seen when planting was fruit.