Just because some people can do something with little or no training, it doesn't mean that others can't do it (and sometimes do it even better) with training.
I had the great good fortune of getting my Ph.D. in the very first year that universities were actively seeking women faculty. The government was putting pressure on universities to hire more women.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the pivotal moment when women began to be actively sought after in academic positions, reflecting progress in gender equality in education.
Carol S. Dweck's quote reflects the significant change in university hiring practices during a transformative period for women in academia. The pressure from the government to hire more women faculty not only created opportunities for many but also marked a shift in societal norms regarding gender roles in higher education. Dweck's experience underscores the importance of timing and context in career advancement, particularly for historically marginalized groups.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about gender diversity in the workplace, this quote can serve as an example of progress in hiring practices.
More from Carol S. Dweck
All quotes →Some students start thinking of their intelligence as something fixed, as carved in stone. They worry about, 'Do I have enough? Don't I have enough?'
In one world, effort is a bad thing. It, like failure, means you're not smart or talented. If you were, you wouldn't need effort. In the other world, effort is what makes you smart or talented.
Our message to parents is to focus on the process the child engages in, such as trying hard or focusing on the task - what specific things they're doing rather than, 'You're so smart. You're so good at this.' Although it's never too late to change, what you do early matters.
Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.
I loved everything. I loved sciences and I loved humanities. But ultimately, I felt that in the humanities, you know, you're writing about things that already exist. But in the sciences, you're discovering things that no one has known before. Ultimately I chose psychology because it seemed to combine science with things that I liked to think about.
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