John Tierney has a good column in the Times that summarizes the research behind the math/science gender gap. Actually, I need to be careful about generalizing about those gaps. Women make up more than half of the biological sciences majors.
And from the PBS Nova show, we have these two female scientists taking a different tack.
I think Tierney is right to say there’s no legislative solution to the gaps. And if these mandatory workshops do arise you can bet we’ll see more silliness such as Gender Bias Bingo. My question last time the game arose: If I stand up and point out that 60 percent of the graduates at this university are female do I win bingo?
But neither Tierney nor the Nova scientists get at the core of the gaps. For that, you have to read Susan Pinker’s book, The Sexual Paradox.