Does gender matter? (Commentary in Nature)

[Neuronix]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I haven't finished reading the whole thing myself, but it's generating alot of buzz.

Nature 442, 133-136(13 July 2006) | doi:10.1038/442133a; Published online 12 July 2006
Does gender matter?
Ben A. Barres

"The suggestion that women are not advancing in science because of innate inability is being taken seriously by some high-profile academics. Ben A. Barres explains what is wrong with the hypothesis."

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442133a.html

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

I think her argument is weakened by the fact that she is transgendered. Obviously, she isn't going to argue that she chose to be transgendered, since she would thereby lose justification for such behavior. On the other hand, it is much more attractive to claim their are innate brain differences (which she does implicitly), although it is precisely against this hypothesis that she argues. The only way it would work was if she could demonstrate "separate but equal," but as the jury is still out on what any innate differences might be, we are far away from discussing equality despite the differences.

 

[Shatterstar17]

I think being transgendered was a really important part of her piece. Obviously it wasn't as heavy on the hard science as most things you'll read in Nature, but it seems that if anyone can intuitively understand what it's like to be a scientist of both genders, he can. He has the ability to draw upon half a lifetime of experiences as a female scientist, and after his transition, as a male scientist.

About the brain differences, I don't think the author argues that there are none between men and women (that would be obviously kind of silly, I don't think any hard scientist believes that gender is a complete social construction). I have to go back and read it again, but I think he even acknowledges that at some point (when he talks about losing his ability to cry easily) but what he argued essentially was that the differences in brains between men and women don't result in differential intelligence (at least in the capacity to do good science).

 

[QofQuimica]

About the brain differences, I don't think the author argues that there are none between men and women (that would be obviously kind of silly, I don't think any hard scientist believes that gender is a complete social construction). I have to go back and read it again, but I think he even acknowledges that at some point (when he talks about losing his ability to cry easily) but what he argued essentially was that the differences in brains between men and women don't result in differential intelligence (at least in the capacity to do good science).

Agree. I don't think that the issue is whether there are ANY biological differences between men and women's brains, but rather whether there are any RELEVANT differences in terms of each sex's ability to do good science. For example, the fact that most men are taller on average than most women is a real difference between the sexes, but it would be hard to argue that women's shorter average height is a difference that is relevant to whether we can be good scientists.

 

[mjs]

Nature 442, 133-136(13 July 2006) | doi:10.1038/442133a; Published online 12 July 2006
Does gender matter?
Ben A. Barres

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/full/442133a.html

I think the two figures in his piece say a tremendous amount about how much discrimination plays into the differences in outcomes for men and women in science.

Also interesting: his interview in the NYT .

 

[SpeakLittleB]

the important point is that men and women should not be judged differently. even if males were inherently better at science, a woman with the same productivity and potential as a male counterpart should not be rated less or have a harder time finding funding strictly because of her gender. i'm a girl here, but i think it could be possible that the male brain is better wired for science. i do, however, think it is an issue if the work i do is not given its full credit simply because of the fact that i am female.

 

[CaipirinhaQuinho]

...


(transgendered?)


...

 

[Shatterstar17]

...
(transgendered?)
...

He was born a woman but felt his brain-gender was always male so he transitioned (presumably through hormonal treatments if not surgery) so that outwardly he also looks masculine.

And he did a good job! Take a look at that picture. Jeez..I wish I could grow a beard like that..just poops out after a point and gets all fuzzy bunny. 🙁

The article has some anecdotes about how attitudes were different toward him as a scientist before and after his transition (while outwardly female and male respectively).

 

[ttac]

interesting article on Sciam.com

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=sex-math-and-scientific-achievement&sc=WR_20071204