Posted on 04/19/2019 4:32:59 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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Based on the data we found and on previous literature in this field, gender differences in representation and productivity can be interpreted in terms of two main causal factors:
Gender differences in interests; Higher male variability (HMV). Needless to say, “for every complex natural phenomenon there is a simple, elegant, compelling, wrong explanation” (Thomas Gold) and when dealing with complex systems any simple explanation can easily be inadequate, including explanations that attribute gender disparities exclusively to sexual discrimination. But I believe the data can be explained without invoking sexual discrimination and by focusing instead on the two factors above. Gina Rippon, e.g. in her recent book The Gendered Brain (2019), questions the scientific basis of these factors—which are sometimes dismissed as “neurosexism” and “neurotrash”—but the evidence is quite compelling.
Concerning (1), a meta-review of the scientific literature summarizes the position as follows: “Gender differences in interest and enjoyment of math, coding, and highly systemizing activities are large. The difference on traits related to preferences for ‘people vs. things’ is found consistently and is very large.”2 This difference in interests is consistent with gender differences in preferred academic fields (fig.1 shows the situation in Italy) as well as with gender differences in specializations inside physics, other sciences, the humanities and medicine: the percentage of women is lowest in theoretical physics, philosophy, orthopedic surgery, etc. Students in physics world-wide (both undergraduates and graduates) are roughly 70 percent male—and this doesn’t appear to be due to discrimination. Physics departments are equally open to everybody: men are not offered limousine rides to the department and women don’t need to wear moustaches to get through the door. On the contrary, many departments work hard to attract more female students.
(Excerpt) Read more at quillette.com ...
Math is hard. Ask Barbie.
There could be the fact that a physics degree, no small accomplishment BTW, doesn’t pay as well as most other STEM degrees.
Physics is associated with so many fields, it’s really difficult to assess. It was a required course for my degree and that was 40 years ago. Sign me...A Women.
Physicists have a particular mindset in my experience. I have worked with 3 lady physicists, only one had that mindset, the other 2 were mostly political entities.
Not enough unicorns, rainbows, or wealthy bachelors.
Could it be that physics just does not interest most women?
Whatever the data show, it must be Trump’s fault.
Why Are Women Under-Represented in Physics? Simple, they have been lied to so much about what 6” is, they have no concept of measurement.
Why aren’t heterosexual men better represented in fashion? It’s a real problem and it needs intense study.
I’d add a third one. Men are more driven, on average, to obsessive mastery and accomplishment.
It is both their mating plumage and their gathering of resources for their young.
Could be. I do know from college tales of woe, most women are not interested in physicists.
The best thing Barbie ever said is "Math class is tough". It was an acknowledgement that gals are supposed to be in Math classes that are a challenge. <^..^>
Math and the endeavors it relates to are analytical, not emotional. It's a characteristic of many woman to not want to focus in on the facts without getting involved with more emotional, subjective aspects. That being said, there are a lot of woman who excel at math, have been throughout history. The best way to let them excel is to not force women (or men) who aren't so inclined to take advanced courses.
;-)
Lise Meitner begs to differ.
“Could it be that physics just does not interest most women?”
That would be exactly it.
Excellent observation. I have worked with many Physicists, men and women. Guess what - some were really good at it and others were not, regardless of sex. What a stupid premise for a question this article proposes.
Everyone is underrepresented in physics.
It is for very strange people.
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