Cranford Review 2020

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SCIENCE / PHYSICS
GiP Club
hysics department hosted their
The Pfirst ‘Girls in Physics session’
more commonly known as a GiP club session.
This gathering of Year 11 girl physicists were
educated on gender stereotypes from birth
until this point in their lives. The aim of the
session was to give the girls an insight into the
obstacles they may unknowingly face whilst
studying Physics and provide them with the
motivation and skills to overcome them.
Kristy Foale (Head of Physics Department)
The Girls in Physics Club meeting succeeded in giving me a great boost in motivation and confidence in my ability
to pursue Physics after GCSEs. The topics discussed in the session such as how society has stereotyped Physics to be
a subject tailored more to boys which has led to jobs involving Physics becoming male dominated were the driving
force in my determination to continue to work hard and prove the statistics wrong. The meeting also boosted the faith
I had in my own abilities: Ms Foale and Ms Mehmi spoke about how women had been trained by society to downplay
and underestimate their potential and skill. They told all the girls to
trust their abilities more which was a much needed reminder both
for the exams which were steadily approaching and for the next
phase of academic and general life. Overall GiP club was extremely
successful and I hope it continues in the future to inspire more girls
at Cranford Community College to choose a career in Science.
Zehra Hasan (year 11)
I liked the fact that the staff encouraged many girls to study Physics
and break gender stereotypes as well as making people realise that
boys had been advantaged in Physics from childhood due to the
stereotypical selection of toys by gender which was something I
had not been aware of. The GIP club was quite enlightening as the
statistics showing gender groups picking particular subjects were
surprising, therefore I learnt a lot and it was also very encouraging.
Buvaneswari Jayaraman Rajagopalan (year 11)
I think the GIP meeting did have an impact on me because it
enlightened us about all the inequalities in the world of Physics and
highlighted how girls have less opportunities than boys. It showed
that we fundamentally have to work harder than them and this was a
favourite part of the meeting: the fact that it gave us the motivation
to prove the statistics wrong.
Abinayah Kagenthirarasa (year 11)
I found the GiP club very inspiring, as it gave me an insight into what
girls can do, regardless of the challenges we may face in our lives. It
also made me realise that I might want to pursue a career in Physics
and allowed me to understand that girls can do whatever they want,
and that we are just as capable as boys in every way.
Nawal Mir (year 11)
8
The GiP club meeting was an amazing experience and it really helped
me understand the stereotypes that exist in society and how important
it is for us to overcome them. It was also wonderful to be a part of
the discussion, listen to and understand other people’s thoughts and
opinions. Thank you for inviting me!
Maryam Ayub (year 11)