Boys mind', girls' heart: barriers to the realization of the potential in gifted girls - responding to challenges

How can gifted girls from Eastern Europe realise their potential?

By: Brankovic B
Published by: United Nations [UN] Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) , 2006
Via: Eldis

Realising the potential of gifted girls is a challenging feat, particularly in Eastern Europe. Girls are faced with both internal and external challenges. This paper explores said challenges and suggests approaches to overcoming them. Internal barriers discussed include lack of independence, low confidence and internalised stereotypical gender-roles. External challenges involve peer pressure, discouragement from schools and teachers, and parental influences. Internal barriers discussed include lack of independence, low confidence and internalised stereotypical gender-roles. External challenges involve peer pressure, discouragement from schools and teachers, and parental influences. To foster an environment where gifted girls can excel, the paper offers several policy recommendations, including:

• analyse curricula and school text-books for elementary and high schools from gender equality perspective, and providing clear guidelines/recommendations to future authors of text-books
• integrate gender awareness seminars into in-service teachers’ training
• establish teams in state-run media, responsible for designing and implementing gender-sensitive editorial policy
• organise specially designed courses aimed at developing leadership skills in gifted girls

(http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/elim-disc-viol-girlchild/ExpertPapers/EP.7%20%20Brankovic.pdf)