Should Title IX be applied to Science?
9 months ago
16 Comments
Men significantly outnumber women in the physical sciences. Some activists and politicians want to use Title IX to force gender parity in these fields.
Is the disparity caused by biology, or cultural factors?
Interesting (and opinionated) perspective:
http://www.american....re-like-a-man
'Our goal,' says the deputy director of the National Science Foundation, 'is to transform...the entire culture of science and engineering in America, and to be inclusive of all.'
Another interesting article:
http://thesituationi...science-math/
"no significant differences were found on the verbal part of the SAT, but the math part revealed sex differences favoring boys. There were twice as many boys as girls with math scores of 500 or higher (out of a possible score of 800), four times as many boys with scores of at least 600, and 13 times as many boys with scores of at least 700 (putting these test takers in the top 0.01 percent of 12- to 14-year-olds nationwide)"
Tags: history, technology
1. |
 |
||
2. |
 |
||
3. |
 |
||
 |
Add a new answer! |
Topic Details
This topic was started by MDAdams on March 6th, 2008. 12 grupies have voted on one or more of the 3 answers.
Tags: history, technology
Comments |
Leave a comment
So, how old is that article?
I've been hearing lately (in my gigantic teacher subculture that I belong to) that girls are beginning to outrank the boys in maths and sciences, in national tests.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that girls aren't being told anymore that maths and sciences are just for boys.
Fairly recent events, awkwardly:
"On October 17, 2007, a subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Technology convened to learn why women are âunderrepresentedâ in academic professorships of science and engineering and to consider what the federal government should do about it."
Another quote from the article:
"Already, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is administering a multimillion-dollar gender-equity program called ADVANCE, which, as Olsen told the subcommittee, aims to transform the culture of American science to make it gender-fair. Through the NSF is attempting to make academic sciÂence departments more cooperative, democratic, and interdisciplinary as well as less obsessive and stressful. And the âGender Bias Elimination Act,â introduced by one of the subÂcommittee members, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Democrat of Texas, a few weeks before the hearing, would mandate not only stringent Title IX reviews but also bias-awareness workshops for acaÂdemics seeking government funding."
Aha. Yes, sadly women are underrepresented in professorships, etc... I think a lot of that is due to the "mommy track", and title IX won't fix that. What I've been hearing about is more like elementary-level state-administered normed tests.
.... and I guess the quotes were a kind way of telling me to read the bloody article? sorry. i'm pretty lazy.
what precisely are you asking?
Title IX does essentially apply to science, and is (for the most part) adhered to. Title IX deals with deliberate exclusion; the deliberate, systematic exclusion of women from the sciences has (fortunately) long been frowned upon by the scientific community.
The major issue now is not overt discrimination, but subtle patterns of subconscious prejudice; this is something that would be difficult to fix via direct legislation a la title IX. What we need to focus on now is education and awareness of the issue; and focus on more subtle ways to curb sexual discrimination. For example: "name studies" have shown that female names, or typically "ethnic" names on a resume or journal submission are recieved poorly; perhaps we need to start stripping names for peer review. Also, many science buildings still have sex-disparate restroom facilities left over from a few decades ago when women were *not* permitted in science; these may have a subtle effect on morale, and though the expenses involved in re-balancing such facilities may be intractable, perhaps it should be considered in some instances.
The aspect of the current push by congress and some activists is to tie government funding (which is significant) to gender equity programs in the sciences. Part of the argument is that the environment is too stressful, competitive, and doesn't accomodate work-life balance.
This is disturbing to me, in that a bizarre influence is applied to universities and other institutions to somehow create more female scientists. The fact is that fewer females are interested than males, and if that is something that can be changed by arm-twisting and legislation, I'll be very surprised.
*sigh* so, again, I responded before RTFA.
It looks like judges are interpreting Title IX to mean that "statistical proportionality" is mandated; ie affirmative action. This seems to me to be overstepping the precedent set by Title IX, and (if we are to consider such legislation) needs it's own ruling to be considered.
Anyhow, I've already given an answer that reflects my opinion.
"The fact is that fewer females are interested than males"
Fact?
Awkwardly: I mean the physical sciences. Note that female veterinarians have become more numerous than male vets. Likewise, more females are obtaining college degrees, masters degrees, and PHD's. But not in the physical sciences and mathematics.
hmmm... still not convinced that fewer women equates to lower interest.
I guess I should clarify that - I meant fewer women in physical sciences and mathematics.
@awkwardly: I think it's apparent that there is less interest (statistically) by females in choosing hard sciences as a profession.
That doesn't mean I know whether it's caused by biological or environmental influences. I've seen interesting arguments in both directions. Maybe both types of influences are in play.
well, MD - i can see what you mean, but i'm still not convinced there's any less initial interest. by the time girls get to junior high, there certainly is. i realize we are talking PhD level, here - but the fact that little girls have an interest in these subjects and are discouraged from it somwhere along the line is relevant.
You want more girls interested in science? just increase funding to pony and kitten research.
*smacked on head by former female advisors*
Skrrrriti: You're correct. Women have already outpaced the men as veterinarians.
OMG PONIES!!1!