I think there are two different problems here that are being conflated. One is bias in hiring and the other is bias in expectations. The NASA mentoring program is addressing bias in expectations.
There are many valid criticisms of hiring practices that exclude or pick people based on gender, race, etc. I generally agree with them. There are exceptions (e.g. clothing models), but generally, there are good arguments against bias in hiring.
At the same time, bias in expectations is everywhere, and it can be harmful. The uber-girlie Lego kits I linked to are a good example. They're simplistic, as opposed to complex kits aimed at boys. Is this because girls can't do "hard" kits? I don't know. But if you don't believe me, just click through the Lego Friends kits on Amazon or some other site and look at them. They feature basic designs, and everyone is nice and happy and smiling and not challenging the status quo (again, compare to sets for boys). This is only one of countless examples. My DD7, who figured out how to divide in her head when she was three, told me that she's not good at math because it's not for girls. She certainly didn't hear from anyone in her family.
