When Are You Guys Going to Get It?

LA Times ^ | February 13, 2005 | Deborah Blum

[neverdem]

GENDER STUDIES

In Victorian times, scientists argued that women's brains were too small to be fully human. On the intelligence scale, researchers recommended classifying human females with gorillas.

The great 19th century neuroanatomist Paul Broca didn't see the situation as quite so dire, but he warned his colleagues that women were not capable of being as smart as men, "a difference that we should not exaggerate, but which is nonetheless real."

The president of Harvard University suggested that a lack of "innate ability" might help explain why women couldn't keep up with men in fields like math and science … oh, wait, that one happened just last month.

Hold for a minute — OK — while I dig out my corset and bustle.

If that sounds snotty, I mean it to be.

I, for one, am ready to leave the 19th century behind. Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers can apologize all he wants, but the fact is that — from a position of power — he felt comfortable speculating about women's inadequate intelligence and ignoring years worth of science that proved him wrong.

I don't find that excusable. Period.

And I wonder why we women are so willing to tolerate this kind of behavior.

Summers raised the issue of women's lesser capabilities in an economic conference in Cambridge, Mass., in mid-January. And the most consistent response from women — the one still resonating across the country — is defensiveness.

A litany of female scholars quote studies proving that, yes, we girls can do long division, actually understand a chemical formula, comprehend a physical law or two and not only become professional scientists but do good work.

In fact, when allowed, women have done excellent science for decades, even since the corset-and-bustle days. The physicist Marie Curie won....

[Lurking2Long]

I do believe Torties is a troll...

[Mrs.Nooseman]

My thought exactly!!!

[Judith Anne]

Agreed.

[expatpat]

Not stupid, just amusing.

[Les_Miserables]

See there? Things are improving.

[GodBlessUSA]

Your posts have generated some questions as to your posts. Could you please consider answering my question of the last time I posted to you....

If you have been lurking, you may have seen a lot of newbies who are actually disrupters or baiting on threads. Curiosity, what was your motivation for signing up to respond solely to this older post from last night? Disrupter's are always something, at this successful forum Freepers have to be aware of.

[Judith Anne]

I'm waiting with you. Good questions.

[506trooper]

Good morning

[Torties]

Yeah...that's it. I found out you were shallow and said going to college off your parents money to find a man is foolish....so I'm a troll. So I learned something here.... when you expose a few flaws, you get a group together and just call you that person a name to ease your conscience. Noted...thanks.
See ya in the threads.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

We as women can do that ,because we are wired to MULTITASK,most guys I know can't.

[Judith Anne]

NO Judith Anne....I am not white trash. I'm not going to give you my life story here....but you did, however, just take the low liberal road by saying that. Maybe you know more than me in that regard.

531 posted on 02/21/2005 5:46:58 AM PST by Torties

What were you saying?

[Lurking2Long]

Everyone please ignore the troll...they usually end up crawling back under the nearest rock...

[Judith Anne]

Exactly.

[Judith Anne]

Hiya! ;-D

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Why do have to say something like that,it is rude ,inflammatory and no girls like that don't stay stupid their whole life.

BTW,I don't think that girls in that category ever make it to college.

[GodBlessUSA]

Hello again. Maybe, being new, you didn't see my post, just in case, I'll repost it for you. If you have been lurking, you may have seen a lot of newbies who are actually disrupter's or baiting on threads. Curiosity,

What was your motivation for signing up to respond solely to this older post from last night?

[longtermmemmory]

Debra Blum certainly gives credence to what the harvard president was saying.

[Mrs.Nooseman]

He never attacked you. So whats your problem?

[Torties]

That's why I always say that men are typewriters and women are computers. :)

[Torties]

Yes he did....see #306...