ABSTRACT

The question about girls' attainment in mathematics is met with every kind of myth, false 'evidence', and theorizing about the gendered body and the gendered mind. The 'Girls and Mathematics Unit' led by Valerie Walkerdine has, over a period of ten years, carried out a detailed theoretical and empirical investigation in this area. The book tackles issues and prejudice and examines and puts into perspective many claims that have been made about women's minds. It also probes the relationship between evidence and explanation: why are girls still taken to be lacking when they perform well, but boys are credited even when they do not?

chapter 1|4 pages

Subtracting the Feminine

chapter 2|10 pages

The Truth about Girls

chapter 4|17 pages

Mothers and Daughters at Four

chapter 6|15 pages

Entering Infant School

chapter 7|17 pages

10-Year-Olds

chapter 8|14 pages

Junior-Secondary Transition

chapter 9|22 pages

Entering Secondary School

chapter 10|16 pages

The Fourth Year

chapter 11|8 pages

Examining Mathematics Texts