Mathematics studies the properties of abstract entities, such as numbers, geometric figures or symbols, and their relationships and, without them, it would not have been possible to articulate other sciences, such as physics, chemistry, or even the social sciences. Mathematics is the laws by which the universe is governed and its study can be absolutely fascinating.
Of course, mathematics has an undeserved bad reputation. It is common to find that math is the most feared and hated subject by Secondary education students. Why is this bad press? Is there a reason why we feel rejection of complex operations?
The so-called math anxiety is not listed as a disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. However, it is used to define a series of symptoms that are frequently observed in students when facing mathematical problems: tension, worry, restlessness, irritability, impatience, confusion, fear and mental blockage; These symptoms are usually associated with an extreme fear of this branch of knowledge.
Why are many students experiencing these symptoms? And, most controversial of all: is it true that it is more common in women?
The most worrying consequence is that this rejection can negatively affect the type of career that students choose. That is, both male and female students with math anxiety would avoid careers that contain math-related subjects.
And among college students who already voluntarily take math, is there also math anxiety? In 2009, a team of experts in Mathematics Didactics and Evolutionary Psychology from the University of Granada applied the Fennema-Sherman Mathematical Anxiety Scale to 885 students, which took into account how affective responses play an essential role in the process of teaching and learning mathematics. On the other hand, this study also analyzed whether there are significant differences between men and women regarding this anxiety.
Finally, it concluded that 6 out of 10 college students suffered from math anxiety , and that men experienced a lower degree of anxiety when facing math tasks.
Among the conclusions of the study, it is collected that, considering only men, there are no significant differences between blocks of degrees in terms of anxiety. On the other hand, in the case of women, significant differences were observed between the blocks of health sciences and technical teachings.
Is there discussion about these results? The main weakness of this study is that it is a questionnaire that has been used since the 70s , and it is possible that it is not up to date with the methodologies that are applied today in the teaching of this subject.
On the other hand, another study a little more robust in terms of the sample (it was carried out with more than 1,200,000 people) carried out by scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison did not find a distinction between men and women when it comes to driving. numbers, geometry and arithmetic.
Based on this, women do not appear to be less able to handle mathematics correctly. On the other hand, more than a few studies have pointed out the hormonal and genetic influence on performance differences. Learning and Individual Difference magazine showed how there is a close relationship between math productivity and fetal testosterone exposure during pregnancy.
Why are girls less interested in mathematics?
Clara Grima, mathematician, disseminator and teacher confirms these differences of interests: ” From the age of 10 or 11, girls take a step backwards: they stop being interested in mathematics earlier than boys.”
The trend continues when students must choose their profession: in computer engineering careers, the percentage of female students is less than 15%.
On the reasons that explain why men and women present different academic interests, there is much controversy. For Grima, the cultural element is very important: “There is a lack of female references in leadership positions in computer engineering, for example.”
However, it is not entirely clear that this is the only (or the true) reason.
Training teachers is essential to cultivate a love for mathematics
Regardless of whether there are differences between men and women when it comes to dealing with numbers or where they come from (which is likely due to a mere lack of interest in many of them and some of them); To solve the problem that students present significantly higher rejection symptoms before math than before other subjects, we must look for the origin in some other factor.
“You have to take away the bad reputation that mathematics has, among boys and girls from the age of five or six,” Grima tells us. “It is likely that this anxiety is inherited, since many Primary teachers also have it. Mathematics is usually taught without context and as a dry thing “
Therefore, to eliminate the fear or rejection of the so-called ‘mother of all sciences’, it is necessary to improve the training of Primary teachers, and the teaching conditions.
Meanwhile, Clara Grima laments: “I am angry and sorry for the number of children and adults who miss out on the pleasure of enjoying mathematics because they have not been taught it correctly.”
Sources:
The role of mathematical anxiety in the transition from secondary education to university education (2009) Universidad de Sevilla. Department of Statistics and Operations Research
