The evidence* seems to indicate that they are better (on average of course; some girls are very good and some boys not so good). The question is, is it just natural or is it because girls are "discouraged" by society or something like that? Natural aptitude seems like the simplest explanation to me.
* Evidence 1 and Evidence 2.
I just don't see much compelling evidence for social factors being the main cause of this disparity. Some people claim that math is stigmatized as unfeminine. It's also claimed here that it is a problem that there are disproportionally few women in mathematics. But without explaining why this is inherently a problem. It seems like an ideological position, not a pragmatic one. In a way, it also devalues traditional female gender roles by implying that areas that have been traditionally dominated by men are the most important and valuable.
Anyway, I don't believe that "stigma" explains it. I think that girls who excel at math are much more likely to be praised and encouraged about it by teachers and parents than told "don't do that; it's unfeminine". Who are these people who are discouraging girls from excelling at math?
And if the causes are not mainly sociological, then aren't efforts to eliminate the "gender gap" doomed to failure? Trying to make math "pink" or "girly" won't help, but neither will removing a "stigma" that doesn't actually exist. And instead of trying to push more girls into areas they aren't naturally suited for in order to meet some other person's arbitrary notion of what the ideal ratio of women to men should be in a given field, why not let them self-sort and let the chips fall where they may? Those with a natural interest and aptitude for math or science can choose to go into those fields, and those whose interests and aptitudes lie elsewhere can choose to follow whatever path they think is best for themselves.
It's not necessary to watch this documentary to participate in the thread, but I think it's a very good exploration of the debate over nature vs. nurture (it's not narrowly focused on math ability, btw). Both sides, the nature people and the nurture people, are given opportunities to make their case. It's a documentary from Norway called The Gender Equality Paradox and there should be subtitles.
Embedded:
Or, link to Youtube.
* Evidence 1 and Evidence 2.
I just don't see much compelling evidence for social factors being the main cause of this disparity. Some people claim that math is stigmatized as unfeminine. It's also claimed here that it is a problem that there are disproportionally few women in mathematics. But without explaining why this is inherently a problem. It seems like an ideological position, not a pragmatic one. In a way, it also devalues traditional female gender roles by implying that areas that have been traditionally dominated by men are the most important and valuable.
Anyway, I don't believe that "stigma" explains it. I think that girls who excel at math are much more likely to be praised and encouraged about it by teachers and parents than told "don't do that; it's unfeminine". Who are these people who are discouraging girls from excelling at math?
And if the causes are not mainly sociological, then aren't efforts to eliminate the "gender gap" doomed to failure? Trying to make math "pink" or "girly" won't help, but neither will removing a "stigma" that doesn't actually exist. And instead of trying to push more girls into areas they aren't naturally suited for in order to meet some other person's arbitrary notion of what the ideal ratio of women to men should be in a given field, why not let them self-sort and let the chips fall where they may? Those with a natural interest and aptitude for math or science can choose to go into those fields, and those whose interests and aptitudes lie elsewhere can choose to follow whatever path they think is best for themselves.
It's not necessary to watch this documentary to participate in the thread, but I think it's a very good exploration of the debate over nature vs. nurture (it's not narrowly focused on math ability, btw). Both sides, the nature people and the nurture people, are given opportunities to make their case. It's a documentary from Norway called The Gender Equality Paradox and there should be subtitles.
Embedded:
| YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the ISF. The ISF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. |
| I AGREE |
Or, link to Youtube.
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1GF3Hg0
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire