Girls and science

I stated it already, but probably like any parent (to be), I would love it if one day Daughter becomes a scientist, engineer, doctor, or something like that. This is not a case of putting the cart before the horse, because last I checked the cart is still four or so months from delivery. Besides, I'm not going to have some sissy horse pull my cart; I am a wealthy banker from Boston, dammit, not some loser carpenter from Ohio, or worse yet a farmer from Illinois. I will tear out of here at mach five with six oxen pulling my cart. I just hope I don't get dysentery.


Crap.

What was I talking about? Oh, right - SCIENCE!

Maybe you're saying, "But Luke, you are having a GIRL. Everyone knows that GIRLS are not as good at science and maths as BOYS." First, it's "math" not "maths." I don't appreciate when Britons read this, move along now. Second, you're wrong. Here's a look at the issue in depth, but it boils down to "If the girls take the courses that the boys do, there's no real difference between them." Basically, if you tell them they can, they can. After nine years of undergraduate and graduate level studies in chemical engineering, let me say that the last statement sums up my experiences quite accurately, some of the best and smartest students I've worked with were women (plus they were way better organized than I have ever been).

I'll gladly steer Girl towards the sciences. That's where the coolest jobs are (and they're the most interesting). Hey, if I liked My Little Pony, why can't my daughter love Tyrannosaurus Rex?*

Topical edit made before this was published: Premier commenter Not Alice notes in the comments that a.) she was once a little girl and b.) she loved Legos as a child and therefore advises that c.) I should get Girl into Legos at a young age. I think this is a super-fantastic idea that I may not have actually considered for some time, probably because I guess I generally consider Legos to be boy toys, which is kind of stupid if you think about it. Although if you look at the products it's kind of clear that's who they're marketing to. It's probably a great toy to get kids thinking in ways that would promote the kind of thinking that would lead to interest in math and sciences, i.e. how things work. Plus there is this. And here's the best part: Legos are mostly not made in China. I consider this suggestion win of the epic variety.


As an aside, when searching for Lego info I found this website which provides an extensive list of non-Chinese made toys. Remember: trust, but verify. It's a good place to start.

*The correct answer is: Because T. Rex is boring. "Oh, your favorite dinosaur is T. Rex? Let me introduce you to literally everyone else in the world, because they all think T. Rex is cool, too." Everyone knows that the Ankylosaurus was secretly the coolest dinosaur.