Skip to main content
Log in

Counselling to enhance gifts and talents and undo underachievement of girls

  • Published:
International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Earlier papers (Wilgosh, 1993, 1996b) examined how societal expectations of girls influence their failure to realize their full potential, particularly in mathematics and sciences. Societal influences on girls, particularly overt and more subtle messages conveyed through the press, were examined. This paper reviews issues and concerns identified in the earlier papers. Then, counselling approaches are considered, to enhance gifts and talents and undo underachievement which may be, at least in part, a result of negative and confusing messages girls receive through many different societal sources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Briskin, L. & Coulter, R. (1992). Feminist pedagogy: Challenging the normative. Canadian Journal of Education 17(3): 247-263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L. (1994). Subversive Dialogues: Theory in Feminist Therapy. New York: BasicBooks.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dick, T. & Rallis, S. (1991). Factors and influences on high school students' career choices. Journal of Research in Mathematics Education 22(4): 281-292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, P. & Murphy, B. (1994). The impact of misogyny and homophobia on therapy with women. In M. Mirkin (ed.), Women in Context: Toward a Feminist Reconstruction of Psychotherapy (pp. 48-73). New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs, D. & Fuchs, L. (1995). Counterpoint: Special education — Ineffective? Immoral? Exceptional Children 61: 303-306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, D. (1988, June). Feminist Counselling. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, St. John, New Brunswick.

  • Hyde, J. S. (1981). How large are cognitive gender differences? American Psychologist 36(8): 892-901.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyde, J. S., Fennema, E. & Lamon, S. (1990). Gender differences in mathematics performance: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin 107(2): 139-155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimball, M. (1994). The worlds we live in: Gender similarities and differences. Canadian Psychology 35: 388-404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, E. & Jacklin, C. (1974). The Psychology of Sex Differences. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masson, A. & Hornby, E. (1986). Counselling women: Different ways now. Guidance and Counselling 1: 54-58.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, E. (1994). Women's Experience of Feminist Therapy and Counselling. Buckingham, GB: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mirkin, M. (ed.) (1994). Women in Context: Toward a Feminist Reconstruction of Psychotherapy. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pipher, M. (1994). Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. New York: Ballantine Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomini, B. & Page, S. (1992). Vocational bias and gender: Evaluations of high school counsellors by Canadian university undergraduates. Canadian Journal of Counselling 26: 100-106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilgosh, L. (1993). The underachievement of girls: A societal rather than a gender issue. Education Canada, Spring, 18-23.

  • Wilgosh, L. (1996a). Enhancing gifts and talents and undoing underachievement of girls. Exceptionality Education Canada.

  • Wilgosh, L. (1996b). Underachievement of women and girls: Some societal and feminist views. Education Canada, Fall, 25-31.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wilgosh, L. Counselling to enhance gifts and talents and undo underachievement of girls. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling 20, 339–346 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005387324244

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005387324244

Keywords

Navigation