When you think back to middle school or high school, to the typical 'math geek' that was always up at the chalkboard, swiftly solving the problem at hand, who do you see? Most people typically recall this person as being a male.  

It is a common stereotype that men are better at math then women, but how true is this stereotype? For those without access to a database of research articles, the the truth is hard to come by. When searching for the answers on a common search engine, such as Google, society is bombarded with information that contradicts itself left and right. Some websites say that there is a definite gender gap in mathematical skill that only grows as children get older.  Other websites say that the math myth has clearly been debunked, and that there is no longer any evidence to support said gender gap. So which information is truly accurate?

My goal with this blog is to use the resources I have available to clear the air once and for all. Is there a definite difference in math skill based on gender? If there is, I plan to expose exactly what the cause of that difference is, as there are many possibilities. Is there a biological difference that gives men an automatic boost in math skills from birth? Or is it society itself that encourages this stereotype, not expecting girls to perform at the same level as boys, thus allowing them to slack off in a sense. By not clearly informing society of the truth, we risk helping to create this stereotype, rather than debunking it.