Page 2...The Portland Observer...July 1,1992
Education Update: Why Do Women
Score Lower Than Men On The SAT?
When I sildown to write my weekly
articles, there are times K hen 1 am more
inspired tnan others. This week is cer­
tainly an occasion when specific educa­
tional concerns lead rfie to energeti­
cally address what I perceive to be
serious problems in the development
and nurturing of the female black stu­
dent.
It is not that certain gender dis­
abilities revealed by analyses conducted
by the College Entrance Examination
Board aren’t universally applicable re­
gardless of race... but, it is the case that
the old conundrum raises its ugly head;
“some of us are more equal than oth­
ers”. I can well attest to this, drawing
from my years of teaching and tutoring
students of all races and socioeconom ic
groups at Portland State University.
Before I quote here from the litera­
ture and statistics, let me reveal the
nature of my most immediate concerns.
They are shared by a number of black
parents and teachers; not only in this
community, but across the nation. De­
spite the yeoman efforts and commit­
ment on the part of black women’s
organizations, from social and educa­
tional toGreek-letter Society, the grants
and funding for programs to “develop
and nurture” black female youth lags
tragically behind that devoted to the
“ENDANGERED BLACK MALE’.
Not that this is not a prime concern.
Those familiar with my observa­
tions and comments through the years
can have no doubts about my position
that it is only by the strength, sacrifice
and wondrous Commitment of the black
woman that our race has survived the
trauma and travail of this land (see my
book citation at the end of this article).
It follows that it is absolutely essential
that we devote at least an equal amount
of time, resource and effort to the so­
cialization, tutoring and special needs
of our young females.
It wili take a second article to detail
my perceptions of what is needed in
terms of specific programs and tech­
niques required to address the prob­
lem,. In the meantime, let us examine
some of those “quotes from the litera­
ture” (College Entrance Examination
Board). As stated, we will present our
own taxonomy of educational objec­
tives next week.
“Twenty years age, women re­
ceived higher average verbal scores
and men had higher math scores. Al­
though the differences were signifi­
cantly larger in math than in verbal,
relatively little public attention was
paid to these score disparities, perhaps
because of some underlying assump­
tion that the rightful domain for girls
was verbal and for boys it was math.
Although the difference in math has
continued to be approximately 50 points
during the past two decades and longer,
there has been a slow shift in the aver­
age verbal scores. By 1972, the average
verbal scores for women became slightly
lower than for men. In 1988, women’s
average verbal score was 13 points
lower than men’s, and the average math
score was 43 points lower. (Verbal and
math scores are both reported on a 600-
point scale from 200-800.)
Some Explanations
One of the most obvious reasons
that women’s scores are lower than
men’s is that more women than men
take the SAT. When dealing with aver­
age scoreson tests that are taken by self-
selected populations, a higher percent­
age of test takers usually results in
lower average scores. The number of
women taking the SAT increased sig­
nificantly by the early 1970s, while the
number of men taking the test decreased.
In 1964, women represented only 44
percent of the SAT - taking population.
Since 1981, women have constituted 52
percent of all test takers usually results
in lower average scores. The number of
women taking the SAT increased sig­
nificantly by the early 1970s, while the
numberof men taking the test decreased.
In 1988, about 50,000 more women
than men took the SAT. (See Figure C.)
More women than men are taking
the SAT, but it is also important to look
at who these women are and what their
backgrounds are. For example, the
women who choose to take the SAT are,
according to information provided by
themselves, more likely to come from
families where neither parent has at­
tended college. (See Figure D.) We do
not know why this is the case. Some
have speculated that the women’s move­
ment has helped these young women
recognize the importance of education,
or that young men from similar families
are more likely to drop out of high
school, or to enlist in one of the military
services, or to seek employment imme­
diately after high school. Whatever the
reason for the larger proportion of
women from families with less formal
education. The unfortunate fact is that
many of these students probably have
not received the same parental encour­
age men t and academ ic support that stu-
dents from college-educated families
often receive.
The larger numbers of female SAT
takers also include more women from
racial of ethnic minorities. Another un­
fortunate reality is that educational op­
portunities available to many minority
students are not the same as those avai 1-
able to white students.
Although boys and girls are gener­
ally enrolled in the same schools and
have similar educational opportunities
as their classmates, the fact is that girls
are less likely to be enrolled in solid
college-preparatory courses. Minority
females are even less likely to pursue
these more challenging course. Al­
though the abilities measured by the
SAT are generally not taught in a spe­
cific course or curriculum, the general
verbal and quantitative reasoning skills
included on the test are usually a broad
objective or, at the very least, a by­
product of a good college-preparatory
curriculum. Solving problems, draw­
ing inferences, identifying distinctions,
and interpreting both verbal and math­
ematical information (skills measured
by the SAT) are developed in many
ways both in and out of school but
students who have had more formal
training in school are usually at an
advantage.
The Math Gap
On average, the women who take
the SAT have taken fewer math courses
than men, particularly the more ad­
vanced college-preparatory courses.
The differences are even more pro­
nounced when the data are reviewed by
racial/ethnic group. For example, data
about course-taking patterns of black
Oregon Weekly
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Tigard, Kris Kross CDs, while visited One Stop Records. Brittany who is
the 1991 Tiny Tot Young Miss of America age 5, also she received a
Batman T-Shirt. Thanks One Stop Records
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and white men and women reveal that
whiles are more likely to take advanced
math courses than blacks, and that men
are more likely to take these courses
than women. Black females are only
about half as likely as white males to be
enrolled in courses such as pre-calculus
or calculus.
A similar pattern is evident in the
sciences. Figure G shows the percent­
age of Mexican American and white
males and females who took different
science courses. Mexican American
women are much less likely to be taking
advanced science courses than either
Mexican American or white men.
Research has been conducted to
determine the extent to which these
differences in background can account
for the average score differences be­
tween men and women. Althoughallof
the verbal differences can be explained
by background differences, only about
one-half of the difference in math scores
has been accounted for. This is an area
that deserves further investigation and
research.”
Well, there you have it, the official
view. What do you think readers? I
certainly expect to hear from you, which
will permit me to incorporate some of
your ideas next week. Now for that book
citation I promised you. It is a must for
all who revere, respect and love the
black woman, or wish to study her jour­
ney in work force.
"Labor o f Love, Labor o f Sorrow:
Black Women, Work and the Family,
From Slavery to the Present" by
Jacqueline Jones.
The African American author de­
veloped this book from course material
in a course in women’s history while a
professor at Wellesley College; Price­
less documentation, notes, statistics and
photos. The narrative style and prose of
this black history classic is excellent as
well.
Order from The Scholar’s Book­
shelf, 51 Everett Drive, P. O. Box 179,
Princeton Junction, N.J. 08550, (609)
799-7233. Slock No. 629D9, $13.95
including shipping.
This is a discount firm, original
publisher was Vintage Books, N.Y.
1986.
; zip-code____________________ .
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¡T he P ortland O bserver ]
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vited to attend the next edition of
Straight-Talk. You arc cordially in­
vited to attend the next edition of
Straight-Talk scheduled for June 24,
1992 at Portland Cable Access, 2766 N.
E. Martin Luther King Blvd. from 7:30
p.m. until 9:00 p.tn.
The theme will be “Girls in Gangs,
Part II”.
Due to the limited amount of space,
we would greatly appreciate if you
would be kind enough to confirm your
attendance so that we may provide the
necessary scaling for you and your
guests.
We arc looking forward to your
attendance and support in this much
needed endeavor, tohclpsavcour youth.
Sincerely,
Anthony W. Brown,
Prcsident/Founder
David Carter Jr.,
Vice PrcsidcntCoinmunily Affairs
Stop The Exploitation
Of Mexican American
Women In The U.S.A.
The exploitation of women in the
United States of America is not a new
phenomena. We believe, however, that
in particular for women of color the
exploitation and abuse is on the in­
crease without a national alarm being
sounded by government officials at the
state nor at the federal levels.
It is in the interests of all people of
color and all who believe in freedom
and human dignity to speak out against
any and all forms of discrimination and
exploitation of women in our society or
anywhere in the where this cruel op­
pression exists.
Our focus is concern for the thou­
sands of Mexican American women
who are increasingly becoming “slaves”
and victims of abject cruelty at the
hands of a society gone mad with greed,
exploitation and manipulation to gratify
the sins of racism and sexism in the
United States.
To see hundreds of M exican
women on both sides of the border
between the United States and Mexico,
especially along the border regions of
California and Texas and to hear some
of their stories about their stories about
their abuse after coming into or leav­
ing the United States, makes on want
to cry out in anger knowing the exploi­
tation of these women has nearly be­
come an acceptable norm for many who
are blind and deaf to the plight of these
women who are oppressed.
Many of the immigrant or undocu­
mented workers who come to the United
States wind up as migratory farm work­
ers or as domestic workers in urban or
suburban middle-class homes. We have
reported before about the abuse of Mexi­
can American farmworkers, many of
whom are women, not only from harsh
labor conditions and exploitative labor
policies, but also the exposure of these
workers to life-threatening pesticides
and other agricultural poisons.
Because the immune systems of
mothers and their babies are very vul­
nerable to the dangers of pesticides,
one would think that the Federal Food
and Drug Agency would make a spe­
cial effort to stop the widely used
practice of the “over-kill” use o f pes­
ticides as a cost saving measure by
many large agribusiness corporations
to maximize profits without regard to
the n eg a tiv e h ea lth im p a c t on
farmworkers. The dramatic rise in
cancer and other fatal diseases among
Mexican American Women who are
farmworksers is directly related to
pesticide abuse that the government is
in full knowledge of and has not taken
sufficient steps to stop this from con­
tinuing.
Also the increasing birth
defect rale for Mexican American ba­
bies is directly related to the unfair and
inhuman treatment for Mexican Ameri­
can women workers. We have also
received reports of Mexican American
women being lured to places in Iowa,
California, Washington, Florida,Texas
and other states with the promise of
“good jobs” and “good wages” and
“good opportunities” only to be eco­
nomically entrapped as domestic work­
ers in a situation similar to indentured
servitude. If these women complain to
local authorities, very often they are
physically abused and later deported
or held inside of a “holding faci 1 i ty ” by
immigration officials.
The exploitation o f M exican
American women is not dissimilar to
the historic exploitation of African
American and other women of color in
the United States. The Civil Rights
Movementofthe 1990’s must focus on
the conditions of all women of color in
struggle for justice and freedom.
A society that tolerates or con­
dones the domination and oppression
of women is a society that necessitates
transformation. Vice President Dan
Quayle, and his own brand of “cultural
elitism,” only seeks to justify the op­
pression of people of color communi­
ties especially women of color.
All Latino American, African
American, Native American and Asian
American women deserve and need
the support of all who are committed to
human liberation.
Play It Safe This Summer
Fun, sun, and summer vacation.
We all look forward to the lazy days of
summer, can be the most dangerous
time of the year.
Summer sports such as bicycling,
rollcrblading, tennis, and swimming all
pose serious threats from muscle strains
to death. Summer athletes can play it
safe on those hot summer days.
While bicycling, always wear an
approved helmet with a chin strap. The
helmet should sport a sticker certifying
that it has passed stringent testing stan­
dards by either the American National
Standards Institute or the Snell Memo­
rial Foundation. If you don’t see one of
these stickers, don’t buy the helmet.
“ Bike helmets are also great pro­
tectio n for sk ateb o a rd in g or
rollcrblading,” says Jim Williams, a
safety specialist with the County Com­
panies insurance group. “For these
activities you should also wear elbow
and knee pads along with a good pair of
gloves. These items will keep you safe
from cuts and bruises in case of a fall.”
If you sustain a muscle strain, al­
ways remember RICE. RICE stands for
Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
The first care for injuries is rest. Many
times these injuries will heal them­
selves if given the proper care. If con­
stant pain occurs, apply ice for 20
minutes. Coldness restricts the blood
vessels, slows bleeding and prevents
swelling. It also numbs nerve endings
to reduce pain. Never put ice directly
on the affected area. Wrap the ice in
plastic and place in a towel, then put it
on the sore muscle or joint.
Compression with an elastic ban­
dage on the area will keep the swelling
down. However, if it is wrapped too
tightly, numbness, cramping, or pain
beyond the bandage and injury itself
may occur. Always test the bandage for
tightness after wrapping the injury.
“Elevation to an injury also helps.
By elevating the injured area above the
heart, gravity will assist in the drainage
of the painful areas, decrease the blood
supply and reduce swelling. This should
be continued while you sleep,” adds
Williams.
If you experience an inability to
move the injured area or cannot place
weight on it, you should consult a
physician. Follow this rule: If you can’t
decide whether or not to call thedoctor,
you’d better call the doctor.
Keeping safe during summer sports
sounds like a tough job, but remember,
if you use your head you can’t go
wrong.
52nd ÑNPA Convention
Robert Bogle, second from left, Publisher of the Philadelphia Tribune in d
President of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, chats wfo
participants in the Association s 52nd Annual Convention recently in
Baltimore, MD. With Bogle are, from left, Virgis Colbert, Vice President,
Plant Operations, Miller Brewing Company, Jack Kemp, Secretary, U S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development and George L. Knox III.
Vice President, Public Affairs, Philip Morris Companies Inc. One several
prominent figures to address the convention, Kemp told representatives of
the Association's 205 weekly newspapers that "I believe with all my heart
that my party will never be whole again until Black folks believe that the
party of (President Abraham) Lincoln did not desert them "
/.
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