This is NOT How We Want Our Daughters Thinking About Math

When I was young, I remember going to the video store–pause, take that in–and scouring the shelves to find my favorite musical: Babes in Toyland. You can imagine my joy when I cuddled up with my family to pass on my love of this classic with them. All was light and fun, warm and lovely. Until the scene where Mary, mourning the loss of her beloved Tom, reflects in song on her categorical discomfort with math and unpreparedness to run a household without a man.

My wife refuses to watch the flick. I understand why. I share it here, though, as a reminder as to how deep math phobia goes and how much work we have to do to undo its deep cultural roots.