http://xkcd.com/385/

I just finished Calculus 3 and Physics 2 this Spring, and was overjoyed to get a B and A. In my experience, men tend to be good at math in a way that makes them too big headed to study and try hard, so they don't do well. Yes, my girlfriends and I aren't "naturals" at it so much as we work our brains out to get a good grade. We are also more apt to want to understand what we are doing, versus arguing with the prof. about how to do it even though they didn't bother doing the homework all semester. Young men being told they are "good" at math/physics/etc. is hurting them because it puts their egos in the way. As a girl, I was often told I was "good" at things, but that always rubbed me the wrong way (labeled: does not take compliments well). I think it was because I knew how hard it seemed to me, and telling me I was "good" at it kind of discounted how much work it took to understand.

My ranting .02