Not by her own choice, she spent a great deal of time lonely and an outsider. These pressures often clash with a strong need to assert themselves and their ideas, to express anger, or to insist on justice qualities typical of gifted children and accomplished adults. Sitting in the same classroom, reading the same textbook, listening to the same teacher, boys and girls receive very different educations. They point out that girls are often taught to value neatness over innovation and appearance over intelligence. In schools, they are typically called on less frequently in classes, are taught to wait their turn and speak quietly, and learn to defer to boys.
Many gifted girls drop out of gifted programs in middle school to avoid pressure and role conflict.
School and appearance are not the only areas of struggle. High rates of depression among teenage girls are often related to negative feelings about their bodies and appearance and conflicts about high achievement. Some girls are particularly vulnerable in athletic activities like ballet, gymnastics, and swimming or diving where body shape and size contribute to a competitive edge. Academic perfectionists are also vulnerable. They are driven to gain total control in one of the few areas where they can food.