welp, gender gap aside, we do a thoroughly abominable job in math education in this country. It's completely socially acceptable to be "just not good at math" - even the basics - and I've got nothing against better acceptance of diversity, but this acceptance is because so many people are afraid of it to varying degrees... and if you *do* like it, you're considered just a tad odd (tho' I dare say, most people just say you're lucky... not demented or amything )