We’re no longer intimidated by math, because we’re slowly redefining what math is.

The line suggests that fear of mathematics is not only a personal deficiency but also a cultural byproduct of narrow definitions of what “counts” as math—often rote procedures, speed, and symbol manipulation. By “redefining what math is,” the speaker implies a shift toward mathematics as sense-making: modeling real situations, asking good questions, reasoning, and communicating ideas. In that broader frame, more people can see themselves as capable participants, so intimidation recedes. The quote also hints at an ongoing, collective process (“slowly”), acknowledging that changing classroom norms and public perceptions takes time and sustained effort.