Why don’t girls play football? Can they? Can girls go to space? The questions began Saturday. The first round brought a chuckle or two. The second round about whether girls could be scientists, investors and pioneers in space nearly brought tears to my eyes. Why should I have to tell my girls that yes, girls can be scientists?!
The Questions
We had just settled on the sofa to watch college football. My oldest daughter appeared to be analyzing the field.
“Why are there no girls playing?,” she asked. “Can girls play?”
“Yes, they can,” I said. “There are some female kickers.”
The next day, we went to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. About an hour and a half into learning about the space project and walking through the Space Lab exhibit, my daughter turns around to ask, “Can women go into space?”
The question was a punch to my gut. “YES! Of course, they can!”
The Narrative
Why was she asking this question? Of course, women have gone into space- teachers, astronauts, and doctors. Several of her friends are the children of female scientists who have made incredible contributions to our knowledge of medicine and archeology.
I stopped for a moment and took a look around me. I was filled in a museum with incredible artifacts telling the story of space exploration and technology developments. But most of the faces were of men. Men shaking hands. Men waving. Men at the center of a crowd. The more visible women were the wives visiting their husbands or sending them off. How we tell our story is a vital part of our narrative.
I found myself searching through lists of astronaut names and studying every passing picture or video monitor. I didn’t want to miss any women who had made a contribution to space exploration. I felt I had something to prove to my daughter, which therein lies another problem.
I shouldn’t have to convince or prove anything to my daughter. She is capable of achieving her own dreams whether it is to become an astronaut, a scientist, the President of the United States, a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, an artist or a parent. Gender should not be a qualifier. All that should matter is her ability to work hard and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge.
Telling Our Stories
I do truly believe women can have it all- a successful, fulfilling career and a family. I surround my daughters by other women who also believe that and who can have a positive influence on their lives. But perhaps that’s not enough. I need to help tell them the story of how women are breaking glass ceilings, achieving their dreams and changing our everyday lives. That starts now.
