• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Front page
  • Archives
  • About
    • About
    • Site author Douglas Eby
    • About product links
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Related sites
  • Interviews
    • Interviews – audio
    • Interviews – text
  • Resources
    • Selected Articles
    • Resources for Creative People
    • Books For Your Creative Mind
    • Emotional Health Resources
    • Products & Programs
    • RSS Feed
  • The Creative Mind Daily

The Creative Mind

creativity research | personal growth for creative people

  • Developing Creativity
  • Personality
  • Sensitivity / Introversion
  • Self-esteem
  • Mental Wellness
  • More topics
You are here: Home / Creative Women / Danica McKellar: “Being girly and smart is not either-or”
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course

Danica McKellar: “Being girly and smart is not either-or”

“Being glamorous and fashionable and all the rest of it is wonderful…Being smart is part of it.”

Danica McKellarTavis Smiley comments: Danica McKellar has enjoyed a successful career in television, first on the “Wonder Years.. and more recently on the “West Wing.”

Along with acting, one of her other great passions is math.

She is actually a renowned mathematician who has a physics theorem named after her.

How concerned are you about the future of our country?… We live in a country where girls and boys are not doing as well as they should in the maths and sciences, and yet we don’t have another generation to replace them with.

Danica McKellar: Well, on a practical level, right now we’re having to outsource to foreign countries for many of our technologically savvy jobs.

In fact in 2000, I was invited to speak at Congress about the importance of women in mathematics, and the reason I was being called to speak there is because they were trying to address this very issue, saying, “Well, what are we going to do?”

We are losing more and more of our positions for Americans that are going to foreigners because we’re not smart enough. Well, maybe the issue is tapping untapped resources like women, minorities, and people with disabilities in math. But really, everyone is losing interest in math and science.

Tavis Smiley: You talk to kids, I read somewhere on your website, about math issues.

Danica McKellarDanica McKellar: Oh, all the time, absolutely. Through my website, I’ve been answering math questions and talking about math issues for a long time.

This is my first opportunity to do it in book form…”

[One of her books: “Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail.”]

Tavis Smiley: So how does it feel to have a theorem that bears your name?

Danica McKellar: It feels great. But you know, the comment that you made – and thank you very much for complimenting me on my appearance – that how could I have a theorem named after me, that’s the very point that I’m addressing in this book.

That being glamorous and fashionable and all the rest of it is wonderful and so much fun to pursue as a girl – it really is. It’s girly and it’s great. Being smart is part of it. It is not a choice.

Tavis Smiley: And it’s not an either-or.

Danica McKellar: It’s not either-or.

Tavis Smiley: It can be both-and.

Danica McKellar: Absolutely.

Tavis Smiley Show [PBS] Aug 14, 2007

~~~

PBS video: Are You the Girl from “The Wonder Years”?

One of my related posts: Multitalented Creative People.

My related Facebook page: HighAbility

~~~~~~

Social Emotional Health Program for Creative, Gifted, Highly Sensitive People
Discover the Power of Self-Compassion free video series
The Self-Acceptance Summit

 

Filed Under: Creative Women Tagged With: Danica McKellar, identity, women in science
By Douglas Eby: Resume | Facebook/The Creative Mind page

About Douglas Eby

Douglas Eby (M.A./Psychology) is author of the Talent Development Resources series of sites including High Ability; Highly Sensitive and Creative; The Creative Mind and others - which provide "Information and inspiration to enhance creativity and personal development." Also see Résumé.

Primary Sidebar

The Creative Mind Network

The Creative Mind is part of a series of sites by Douglas Eby - providing information and inspiration for exploring your creativity and personal development.

The Creative Mind Daily
Scoop.it Content Curation by Douglas Eby        Flipboard
Mindfulness Daily
Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography
The Self-Acceptance Summit article

Popular Posts

  • The Complex Personality of Creative People
  • Growing up exceptional: Emma Watson on being smart
  • Creativity and Asperger’s
  • ADHD and the Creative Mind
  • Owning Our Shadow Self
  • What Keeps You Away From Creative Work?

search this site

search ALL Creative Mind sites

More Creative Mind Sites

Talent Development Resources

Developing Multiple Talents – the book

High Ability

Highly Sensitive and Creative

Actors and acting

The Inner Entrepreneur

Personal Growth Information

Emotional Health Resources

Anxiety Relief Solutions

More sites & Facebook pages of Douglas Eby

Copyright © 2018 · Lifestyle Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · on WordPress