Ouch

(Source: ikissedmygirl-andilikedit)

This outfit reminds me of something Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games might wear. Speaking of the Hunger Games, I haven’t had time to see it yet, but I heard it was great. Finally, a movie that doesn’t murder the material the book has to offer!

(Source: highqualityfashion)

Chances are good that if you are a successful professional today, you were a pretty bright fifth grade girl. My graduate advisor, psychologist Carol Dweck (author of Mindset) conducted a series of studies in the 1980s, looking at how bright girls and boys in the fifth grade handled new, difficult and confusing material.

She found that bright girls, when given something to learn that was particularly foreign or complex, were quick to give up - and the higher the girls’ IQ, the more likely they were to throw in the towel. In fact, the straight-A girls showed the most helpless responses. Bright boys, on the other hand, saw the difficult material as a challenge, and found it energizing. They were more likely to redouble their efforts, rather than giving up.

Why does this happen? What makes smart girls more vulnerable, and less confident, when they should be the most confident kids in the room? At the 5th grade level, girls routinely outperform boys in every subject, including math and science. So there were no differences between these boys and girls in ability, nor in past history of success. The only difference was how bright boys and girls interpreted difficulty - what it meant to them when material seemed hard to learn. Bright girls were much quicker to doubt their ability, to lose confidence, and to become less effective learners as a result.

Researchers have uncovered the reason for this difference in how difficulty is interpreted, and it is simply this: more often than not, bright girls believe that their abilities are innate and unchangeable, while bright boys believe that they can develop ability through effort and practice.

How do girls and boys develop these different views? Most likely, it has to do with the kinds of feedback we get from parents and teachers as young children. Girls, who develop self-control earlier and are better able to follow instructions, are often praised for their “goodness.” When we do well in school, we are told that we are “so smart,” “so clever, ” or ” such a good student.” This kind of praise implies that traits like smartness, cleverness, and goodness are qualities you either have or you don’t.

Boys, on the other hand, are a handful. Just trying to get boys to sit still and pay attention is a real challenge for any parent or teacher. As a result, boys are given a lot more feedback that emphasizes effort (e.g., “If you would just pay attention you could learn this,” “If you would just try a little harder you could get it right.”) The net result: when learning something new is truly difficult, girls take it as sign that they aren’t “good” and “smart”, and boys take it as a sign to pay attention and try harder.

We continue to carry these beliefs, often unconsciously, around with us throughout our lives. And because bright girls are particularly likely to see their abilities as innate and unchangeable, they grow up to be women who are far too hard on themselves - women who will prematurely conclude that they don’t have what it takes to succeed in a particular arena, and give up way too soon.

Even if every external disadvantage to a woman’s rising to the top of an organization is removed - every inequality of opportunity, every chauvinistic stereotype, all the challenges we face balancing work and family - we would still have to deal with the fact that through our mistaken beliefs about our abilities, we may be our own worst enemy.

Thank you! Congrats on getting into Rice. Part of the reason I started this blog was to banish the stereotype that college students wear sweatpants all the time. I hope you enjoy your visit; if you have any questions about Rice, I’d be glad to answer them.

During the Pi Day madness (where 2012 pies were passed out in honor of the Rice’s Centennial celebration, coming up next year), it was quite a shock to see Celeste, who looked like she had just stepped out of a vintage movie. Picture by Herzstein Hall (I need to get more creative about picture-taking locations, huh?)

Rice had its own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic marathon earlier this semester, so it’s no surprise to find Henry wearing the emblem of Rainbow Dash on his shirt. Photo taken at Brochstein Pavilion.

For more explanation of the “brony” phenomenon and why college kids love the kid’s show so much, click here.

Btw, Pinke Pie is best pony. *trollolol

(Source: mybestfriendmyboo)

Keep calm and carry on. Photo taken at Herzstein

Perfect party hair! (Especially considering that this weekend is the Sid Richardson party “Schoolgirls”)

For directions, see http://ducksinarowevents.blogspot.com/2012/02/hair-diy-bow-bun-tutorial.html

(Source: vaaanillaskyyy)

Annie Li, a fellow tumblr-er, on the “Jones goes to MFAH” trip. In the background of the second picture, you can see Kevin, from a previous post and of green-pants fame, lurking in the background, wanting another close-up.