Girls constitute half the enrollment in gifted programs in the United States but are underrepresented in high-paying, high-status occupations. The influences of peers, family, and school environment have been identified as the salient external factors affecting gifted girls' career choices. Teachers are in the unique position to observe these influences and to create a positive climate that fosters academic excellence. The authors suggest ways for teachers to educate parents on the family's role in education and career achievement and to create an educational environment that promotes the development of talent.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Axelrod, T. (1988, April). Patently successful. Ms.XVI(10), 44-45.
2.
Benbow, C. (1992). Academic achievement in mathematics and science of students between 13 and 2 3: Are there differences among students in the top one percent of mathematical ability?Journal of Educational Psychology, 84(1), 51-61.
3.
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (1998, January). Employment and earnings. Working women: Equal pay-Facts about working women [On-line]. Available: www.alfcio.org/women/wwfacts.htm
4.
Bureau of the Census. (1998). Table P31: Year round, full-time workers-Persons (all races) 15 years old and over by median earnings and sex; 1960-1996 [On-line]. Available: www.census.gov/hhes/income/histinc/p31.html
5.
Callahan, C.M., Cunningham, C.M., & Plucker, J.A. (1994). Foundations for the future: The socio-emotional development of gifted, adolescent women. Roeper Review, 17(2), 99-105.
6.
Cooley, D., Chauvin, J.C., & Karnes, F.A. (1984). Gifted females: A comparison of attitudes by male and female teachers. Roeper Review, 6(3), 164-167.
7.
Feldhusen, J.F., & Willard-Holt, C. (1993). Gender differences in classroom interactions and career aspirations of gifted students. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 18, 355-362.
8.
Fox, L.H., & Turner, L.D. (1981). Gifted and creative females in the middle school years. American Middle School Education, 4(1), 17-23.
9.
Institute for Women's Policy Research. (1998 ). The male-female wage gap: Lifetime earnings losses. Working women: Equal pay-Facts about working women [On-line]. Available: www.aflcio.org/women/wwfacts.htm
10.
Johnson, L.J., & Lewman, B.S. (1990). Parent perceptions of the talents of young gifted boys and girls. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 13(2), 176-188.
11.
Kelly, K.R., & Cobb, S.J. (1991). A profile of the career development characteristics of young gifted adolescents: Examining gender and multicultural differences . Roeper Review, 13(4), 202-206.
12.
Olszewski, P., Kulieke, M., & Buescher, T. (1987). The influence of the family environment on the development of talent: A literature review. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 11(1), 6-28.
13.
Olszewski-Kubilius, P., & Yasumoto, J. (1995). Factors affecting the academic choices of academically talented middle school students. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 18(3), 298-318.
14.
Raymond, C.L., & Benbow, C.P. (1989). Educational encouragement by parents: Its relationship to precocity and gender. Gifted Child Quarterly, 33(4), 144-151.
15.
Read, C.R. (1991). Achievement and career choices: Comparisons of males and females. Roeper Review, 13(4), 188-192.
16.
Reid, P.T., & Stephens, D.S. (1985). The roots of future occupations in childhood: A review of the literature and girls and careers. Youth & Society, 16(3), 267-288.
17.
Reis, S.M. (1987). We can't change what we don't recognize: Understanding the special needs of gifted females. Gifted Child Quarterly , 31(2), 83-89.
18.
Sadker, M., & Sadker, D. (1994). Failing at fairness: How America's schools cheat girls. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
