Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

When Are You Guys Going to Get It?
LA Times ^ | February 13, 2005 | Deborah Blum

Posted on 02/20/2005 3:32:14 PM PST by 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....

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; US: California; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: academia; genetics; larrysummers; sexdifferences; summers
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 621-640641-660661-680 ... 701-713 next last
To: <1/1,000,000th%
Good thing he didn't say that women were little Eichmann's and deserved everything bad that happened to them.

You know, he probably would've had it easier. If more women entered engineering, math and science, more of them might have worked in the WTC as minions of capitalism and the left could lick it's chops!

But alas, no. They will grind an issue from the musings of the president of Harvard.

641 posted on 02/21/2005 9:47:45 AM PST by GVnana (If I had a Buckhead moment would I know it?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 565 | View Replies]

To: neverdem

Why don't men stop and ask for directions? Because they are so smart? I think not!


642 posted on 02/21/2005 9:49:11 AM PST by Die_Hard Conservative Lady (I have left this blank for a reason....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lurking2Long
Because women whisper the ideas to men while the men are asleep and when the men wake up, they take these brilliant ideas and go out and invent something. Meanwhile, women (all of us) are sitting back, laughing our a**es off!

Sure, its been going on since the beginning of time....heh, heh, heh....
643 posted on 02/21/2005 9:56:14 AM PST by hummingbird ("If it wasn't for the insomnia, I could have gotten some sleep!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Judith Anne


uh hu


644 posted on 02/21/2005 10:03:42 AM PST by LauraleeBraswell ( CONSERVATIVE FIRST-Republican second.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 637 | View Replies]

To: LauraleeBraswell

Come on...I don't think you're a troll, I think you're 18. There are a lot of wise people who post here, and they'll catch on too. Keep talking, please.


645 posted on 02/21/2005 10:08:07 AM PST by gogeo (Often wrong but seldom in doubt.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 644 | View Replies]

To: Judith Anne

#443

Judith; WELL SAID!


646 posted on 02/21/2005 10:19:07 AM PST by Die_Hard Conservative Lady (I have left this blank for a reason....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 443 | View Replies]

To: Die_Hard Conservative Lady

Thanks. ;-D


647 posted on 02/21/2005 10:23:34 AM PST by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 646 | View Replies]

To: LauraleeBraswell; Judith Anne; Diva Betsy Ross; Mrs.Nooseman
** You, Diva Betsy Ross, and Mrs. Tigglywinkle (excuse the spelling) offered me wonderful advice.**

I would appreciate you using the proper spelling of my name. Using an intentionally incorrect spelling/meaning can very well be considered an insult/attack.

Did you take my advice on the other thread about not using personal attacks? JimRob doesn't look kindly on that sort of thing. Calling someone an ***hole is an attack. I had the post removed but can bring it up again if it evades your memory.

648 posted on 02/21/2005 10:26:19 AM PST by mrs tiggywinkle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 626 | View Replies]

To: mrs tiggywinkle

Ladies...she is someone's daughter...can't we be a little kinder?


649 posted on 02/21/2005 10:39:27 AM PST by gogeo (Often wrong but seldom in doubt.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 648 | View Replies]

To: Torties; Judith Anne

For a newbie, you sure are in attack mode.


650 posted on 02/21/2005 10:48:17 AM PST by mrs tiggywinkle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 531 | View Replies]

To: mrs tiggywinkle
Mrs. Tiggywinkle,

I was in all sincerity thanking you. How could that be misconstrued as an attack?

As for the other post, it was on another thread. It is irrelevant. And it was in response to someone's saying that Condoleezza Rice could not be elected president because people in the South would not vote for a black.
651 posted on 02/21/2005 10:50:51 AM PST by LauraleeBraswell ( CONSERVATIVE FIRST-Republican second.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 648 | View Replies]

To: mrs tiggywinkle


Furthermore,

This is not an official letter. And Mrs. Tiggywinkle is not your real name.


652 posted on 02/21/2005 10:56:02 AM PST by LauraleeBraswell ( CONSERVATIVE FIRST-Republican second.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 651 | View Replies]

To: LauraleeBraswell
You used profanity in your attack on zarf. Zarf was pointing out a probable result in the south. Please make yourself familiar with the posting guidelines.

Learn to spell my name correctly. Thank you.

653 posted on 02/21/2005 11:03:04 AM PST by mrs tiggywinkle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 651 | View Replies]

To: gogeo; Judith Anne; Mrs.Nooseman; Diva Betsy Ross; 506trooper
**Ladies...she is someone's daughter...can't we be a little kinder?**

I suggest you do a little research before coming to conclusions. Thank you.

pinging some of the ladies/gents you most likely meant your post for, other than me.

654 posted on 02/21/2005 11:05:54 AM PST by mrs tiggywinkle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 649 | View Replies]

To: LauraleeBraswell
** This is not an official letter. And Mrs. Tiggywinkle is not your real name. **

You intentionally misspelled my name, Lauralee. And how do you *know* it's not my real name. Hmmmmm?

655 posted on 02/21/2005 11:07:18 AM PST by mrs tiggywinkle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 652 | View Replies]

To: mrs tiggywinkle
I did not know whether or not it was spelled incorrectly. And I neglected to go an look it up.

And you posted your qualms about misspelling your name, to everyone. I think your post could be misconstrued as an attack.
656 posted on 02/21/2005 11:09:25 AM PST by LauraleeBraswell ( CONSERVATIVE FIRST-Republican second.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 655 | View Replies]

To: cyborg

It seems you and I are in a minority on this one.


657 posted on 02/21/2005 11:09:45 AM PST by Dashing Dasher (It's time to turn over a new leaf, again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: mrs tiggywinkle
pinging some of the ladies/gents you most likely meant your post for, other than me...

That was my original thought, until I caught some of your posts...on reflection, it would be a waste of time.

658 posted on 02/21/2005 11:09:50 AM PST by gogeo (Often wrong but seldom in doubt.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 654 | View Replies]

To: LauraleeBraswell

You assume much but seemingly know very little.


659 posted on 02/21/2005 11:10:20 AM PST by mrs tiggywinkle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 656 | View Replies]

To: mrs tiggywinkle


I guarantee I know more college women than you do.


660 posted on 02/21/2005 11:11:56 AM PST by LauraleeBraswell ( CONSERVATIVE FIRST-Republican second.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 659 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 621-640641-660661-680 ... 701-713 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson