Loving and loathing:
Portrayals of Mathematics in
Young Adult Fiction Novels
Lisa Darragh
Universidad de Chile (CIAE y CMM)
darraghlisa3@gmail.com
Overview
• Background
• Research on societal views/images of mathematics and
mathematics learning
• My research on portrayals of mathematics learning in
YA fiction
Background
Images and views of mathematics in society
Identity as learner of mathematics
Future participation in mathematics
How does society view mathematics?
"Oh Gosh! Maths?"
"No! I am not good at
maths, please don't ask
me anything about
maths."
(Sam & Ernest, 2000, p193)
How does society view mathematics?
• High status
•
•
•
•
•
•
Difficult, challenging
Scary
Unpopular
Nerdy
Boring
Distinct from other
learning areas
• In Chile?
Public surveys
• Forgasz, H., Leder, G., & Tan, H. (2014). Public views on the gendering of
mathematics and related careers: International comparisons. Educational Studies in
Mathematics, 87, 367–388.
• Leder, G., & Forgasz, H. (2010). I liked it till Pythagoras: The public views of
mathematics. In 33rd Annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research
Group of Australasia (pp. 328–335). Fremantle, Australia: MERGA.
Public surveys
• The majority liked mathematics at school and
considered themselves good at the subject
• Mathematics is important to study and in helping gain a
job
• Forgasz, H., Leder, G., & Tan, H. (2014). Public views on the gendering of mathematics and
related careers: International comparisons. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 87, 367–
388.
• Leder, G., & Forgasz, H. (2010). I liked it till Pythagoras: The public views of mathematics.
In 33rd Annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia
(pp. 328–335). Fremantle, Australia: MERGA.
Survey of ‘images’ of mathematics
• Defined ‘image’ as
- Mental picture (cognitive idea)
- Affective component (attitudes, emotions, beliefs)
• Sample of 548 British adults
• Mathematics as boring, difficult, challenging
Sam, Lim Chap, and Paul Ernest. (2000) "A survey of public images of
mathematics."Research in Mathematics Education 2.1: 193-206.
Draw a mathematician
Picker, S. H., & Berry, J. S. (2000). Investigating pupils’ images of
mathematicians. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 43(1), 65–94.
Draw a mathematician
• Students relied on stereotypes from the media
• Themes included…
- Disparagement of mathematicians
- Mathematicians as foolish
- Mathematicians as ‘overwrought’
- Mathematicians as powerful
Picker, S. H., & Berry, J. S. (2000). Investigating pupils’ images of
mathematicians. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 43(1), 65–94.
Draw a mathematician
Picker, S. H., & Berry, J. S. (2000).
Investigating pupils’ images of
mathematicians. Educational Studies in
Mathematics, 43(1), 65–94
Mathematics in advertising
Evans, J., Tsatsaroni, A., & Czarnecka, B. (2013). Mathematical images
in advertising: Constructing difference and shaping identity, in
global consumer culture. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 85,
3–27. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-013-9496-0
Mathematics in advertising
• Mathematics is used for marketing
• Advertisements both reflect and elaborate
meanings of mathematics in society
Evans, J., Tsatsaroni, A., & Czarnecka, B. (2013). Mathematical images
in advertising: Constructing difference and shaping identity, in
global consumer culture. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 85,
3–27. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-013-9496-0
Mathematics in popular culture
Books, TV shows, movies
Moreau, M.-P., Mendick, H., & Epstein, D. (2010). Constructions of mathematicians in
popular culture and learners’ narratives: a study of mathematical and non-mathematical
subjectivities. Cambridge Journal of Education, 40(1), 25–38.
http://doi.org/10.1080/03057640903567013
Epstein, D., Mendick, H., & Moreau, M.-P. (2010). Imagining the mathematician: Young
people taling about popular representations of maths. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural
Politics of Education, 31(1), 45–60.
Mathematics in popular culture
Hard
Logical
Certain
Ultra-rational
(Invisible)
Mathematicians as
eccentric,
insane,
highly emotional
Mathematics in popular culture
•
During interviews students responded to images of
mathematicians as geeky, nerdy or odd
•
Aware these were stereotypes
•
But no alternative available
Moreau, M.-P., Mendick, H., & Epstein, D. (2010). Constructions of mathematicians in popular
culture and learners’ narratives: a study of mathematical and non-mathematical subjectivities.
Cambridge Journal of Education, 40(1), 25–38. http://doi.org/10.1080/03057640903567013
Epstein, D., Mendick, H., & Moreau, M.-P. (2010). Imagining the mathematician: Young people
taling about popular representations of maths. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of
Education, 31(1), 45–60.
Mathematics in television
We all use math every day…
Yet this TV show portrays it as
too difficult for you, the viewer
Esmonde, I. (2013). What counts as mathematics when “We all use math every day”? A
look at NUMB3RS. In B. Bevan, P. Bell, R. Stevens, & A. Razfar (Eds.), LOST
Opportunities: Learning in out-of-school-time. e-book: Springer.
http://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4304-5_4
Mathematics and gender
•
Many of these studies looked also at gender
•
Mathematicians in the media are male
•
Attitudes to mathematics in society are not significantly
different according to gender
Mathematics in YA fiction novels
YA fiction novels
• YA fiction is a growing genre with a wide audience
(including Spanish speaking world)
• It has been researched to look at representation of various
social groups
• My reading of these books led me to suspect an unfair
portrayal of (school) mathematics
Methods
• Problem: How to find/choose a sample of young adult
fiction?
Methods
• Sample of young adult (YA) fiction from YALSA
• Read all 120 books
• Extracted every mention of mathematics learning
• Categorised the books as negative, neutral, or positive
portrayals of mathematics learning
• Discursively analysed texts for themes
Portrayal of mathematics learning
# of Books
Positive
6
Neutral
15
Negative
32
Total number of books which mention mathematics
53
learning
Mathematics is silenced (No mention of it while other 8
subjects are mentioned)
Total included in analysis
61
Excluded (No mention of mathematics learning, nor
59
any other subject area)
Total books read in the sample
120
Examples
The protagonist’s father says: "I remember in college I was
taking this math class, this really great math class taught
by this tiny old woman…"
(The Fault in Our Stars, p223).
"‘I don't suppose he was inquiring about yesterday's math
homework?’ 'Not quite,' I say…"
(I Am Number Four, e-book, chpt 12).
Examples
“Finally, finally, the last bell rang, freeing me from the
endless torture of X equals Y problems"
(The Iron King, chapter 1)
[Father phones in class] "‘What's with you?’ ‘I'm in math
class.’ After a silence my dad said, ‘I thought you hated
math.’ ‘So?’ I said…”
(After, p2)
Examples
"For a second, I imagine myself as a 102-year-old freshman.
This is entirely possible. It could very well take me eighty-eight
years to understand algebra."
(The True Meaning of Cleavage p12)
In the middle of the night, screams of horror would echo down
the halls as some [student] had been startled from the fitful
realm of sleep only to remember the answer to an obscure
question of ancient history or math. Math was the universal
nightmare among the majority of [students]."
(Captain Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth, part 3)
Other subjects?
Subject
Negative
Portrayal
Positive
Portrayal
History, social studies
1
10
Art
-
3
Music
1
4
Drama
-
1
Religion
-
1
Latin
-
1
Literature/reading/English
Science
4
Gym, P.E
Mathematics
4
32
3
2
6
Mathematics content?
• Almost never including mathematics content
• Most often the mention of mathematics was the name of the
class (algebra, geometry, calculus…)
• Mentions of liking/disliking or ability in mathematics
• Mathematics as a metaphor
"Calc was incomprehensible. I could understand irrational girls
and irrational parents. But irrational numbers? Numbers usually
made sense, even the imaginary ones. I kept reading the page
in my math book over and over again. The only thing that felt
irrational was my brain."
(Twisted, pp62-3)
Discursive analysis
•
Depiction of math teachers
•
Characters relationships with mathematics
•
Mathematics as a setting (e.g. mathematics classroom)
Depiction of mathematics teachers
Stereotyped…
"My math teacher (who was planning to bring a small army
of anal retentive calculator-carrying, math-teacher children
to the concert)….”
(Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie, p240)
Depiction of mathematics teachers
Object of ridicule….
“Mr Palmer slapped the board, raising a small cloud of
chalk dust. Then he spun toward the window. 'Mister
Marcus, ' he spat. 'Can you tell me why that is?'" … "I
barely listened as Mr. Palmer raged at John spit flying out
of the corners of his mouth. I wasn't the only one
unimpressed by Mr. Palmer's tantrum (his third of the day)."
(If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My
Prince? pp 2-3)
Depiction of mathematics teachers
Nasty….
“… it meant even the worst teachers couldn't ever be fired,
no matter how mean or incompetent they were. Even Mrs.
Sidel, the geometry teacher, who used to water her plants
in class and sprinkle the slow kids' heads and say she was
watering the vegetables - even she had a contract
guaranteeing her job..."
(After, p.69)
Depiction of mathematics teachers
• “Clive moony is my geometry teacher and the oldest
living person. He probably taught math back when the
abacus was the latest technology. He's so ancient that
he's senile. He can never remember any mathematical
formulas. But he's managed to retain a database of
songs in his head, songs that have our first names in
them, songs that he delights in singing to mortified
students.”
(The Earth, my butt and other big round things, p40)
Depiction of mathematics teachers
•
Exclusively negative
-
•
Stereotyped
Ridiculous
Nasty
What are the implications for teachers of mathematics?
Relationships with mathematics
Protagonist
Male
Female
Secondary Character
Good at
math
0
Bad at
math
Good at
math
9
Bad at
math
7
9
Male
Female
Good at
math
7
Bad at
math
Good at
math
1
Bad at
math
1
2
(+2 adults)
Mathematics as ‘other’
"I was practically a straight-A student; I aced everything
but math" (Butter, p15)
Repeating math this year (Wintergirls)
"I wound up with As and Bs in English, science, social
studies, and Spanish, and a big, fat D in math." –
(Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie, p164)
"Finals were done, and most of them had been a cakewalk
[easy]. Calculus, the one exception, was behind me, pass
or fail.“
(Eclipse, p323)
‘Scripts’ for mathematics identity
•
There are ‘scripts’ available in these novels for girls to
perform ‘good at mathematics’ identities.
•
There are very few minority groups represented in these
novels. The characters are usually white, middle class,
heterosexual, thin, attractive
•
Stereotyping more evident in the side characters
•
Mathematics is distinct from the other courses
Mathematics as a setting
•
Avoiding mathematics classes
•
Describing confusion or difficulty using a metaphor of
mathematics
•
Mathematics is terrible (Hell, torture, nightmare)
•
Mathematic class is tense (parental, friend, romantic
tension)
Portrayals of mathematics learning
and the classroom…examples
Mathematics as something to be avoided:
“ ‘Okay,' Madison said to me from the doorway, 'you can cut
math, but you can't cut lunch’”
(If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My
Prince?, p220)
Mathematics as metaphor (e.g. ‘confusing’):
"Adam eyed me with furrowed brows, like I was a math
problem on the blackboard that he was trying to figure out."
(If I Stay, p101)
Portrayals of mathematics learning
and the classroom
Mathematics as terrible:
"By the time we get to math class, fourth period, the day
has turned into an exquisite form of torture” … As the
teacher reduces us to theorems, I must remain silent."
(Every Day, p56)
Tension – friends, parents, romance
"I have the same math class as Erica Trager and her
[followers]. Which makes me feel like I have been
banished to the very lowest circles of hell."
(The True Meaning of Cleavage, p125)
"You know, it totally sucks having a stepfather who is also
a high-school teacher, because who is better equipped to
rain on a teenager's parade than a high-school teacher“
(Princess in Pink, p.73)
Mathematics and love
“I was staring at Renee in fifth-period math and praying
nobody would make her change her outfit..."
(Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie, p53)
"We entered calculus and I swear, every person in the
room froze and watched as Noah paused by my desk"
(Pushing the limits, p201)
Love as a plot development
Love was an important aspect of the plot in many of the
novels
‘Love’ plot line develops within a
classroom
Art class
16
English class
1
French class
1
Science class
3
Mathematics class
10
1
Mathematics and love
"I have to admit it: he's the reason I'm
psyched to get four [valentines] in calc.
Mr Daimler's only twenty-five and he's
gorgeous.“
"Nobody else could make calculus even
remotely interesting. I'm sure of it.“
"I swear when our eyes do meet, it
makes my whole body feel like a giant
shiver and I swear he's feeling it too"
(Before I Fall, chapter 3)
Mathematics and love
"Why do you flirt with Mr Daimler? He's
a perv, you know"
"Maybe I'm only one math class away
from being a slut like Anna Cortullo“
"Freshman year Amy spread the rumor
that Ally let Fred Donnin and two other
boys touch her boobs behind the gym
in exchange for a month’s worth of
math homework"
Mathematics and love
"Then I think, he's going to kiss me
right here, in the math wing of Thomas
Jefferson High School, and I almost
pass out.“
(Before I Fall, chapter 4)
Summary of discursive analysis
• Mathematics is used
▫ to develop characters
▫ as a setting
▫ metaphorically for affect
▫ to generate (or reflect?) a feeling of tension e.g.
romantic tension
• These portrayals of mathematics have an affect on
the construction of mathematics in the mind of the
reader and in society
Conclusions
•
Mathematics learning is portrayed negatively in YA fiction
•
Mathematics is used (metaphorically) as a literary device
•
Mathematics teachers are subjected to negative
positioning
•
Gender balance in mathematics ability but other groups
unrepresented
•
Mathematics class is portrayed as something to be
avoided, terrible, confusing, difficult and tense
Implications
•
Provides a measure for view of mathematics in society
(can be repeated in the future)
•
Possibly negative consequences for mathematics
teachers – job more difficult due to negative positioning
•
Mathematics may be a device to help with love!
•
YA fiction reflect and elaborate a notion of mathematics
classrooms as tense.
Future research directions
•
Research into the reaction of teenagers to these novels.
•
A challenge – write YA fiction with positive portrayals
and positions for mathematics learning
Preguntas y comentarios?
Gracias por su atención.
darraghlisa3@gmail.com