Final answer:
The statement that 'The gender gap in math and science scores is increasing' is not true. Cultural influences play a significant role in shaping cognitive abilities, and any small differences present can often be overcome with practice and changes in cultural norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the statements provided, the claim that is not true is: "The gender gap in math and science scores is increasing." Research shows that while there have historically been gaps in certain cognitive abilities between genders, these are not necessarily rooted in biological differences. Cultural factors, including parenting styles, societal expectations, and the types of play encouraged, greatly influence competencies in areas like math and spatial abilities. A wealth of studies, including those reviewed by biologist Anne Fausto-Sterling, found no statistically significant difference in the cognitive abilities of boys and girls overall. Moreover, where differences in spatial abilities are observed, they are often small and can be mitigated with practice and changes in cultural norms, as indicated by cross-cultural studies. In terms of mathematical abilities, girls typically equal or surpass boys, contradicting any notion of a widening gender gap in academic performance. Considering the often-cited differences in verbal and emotional detection skills, with women reportedly being better at detecting emotions and performing slightly better in verbal abilities, the overall differences among genders in cognitive abilities are minimal. The persistent belief in a gender divide in math and science could be a result of societal biases rather than actual academic differences.