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Where Did All the Girl Geeks Go?

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Re: Where Did All the Girl Geeks Go?

#31

Post by yters »

demallien wrote: post #27
yters wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People aren't analyzable by computers, at least on an individual basis. Women tend to be more interested in individual relationships than men, and you can't have a relationship with a computer. In my opinion, it is pretty obvious from the clearly differing motivations of the genders why there is such a gender divide in academics. Maybe it has to do with intelligence, but "intelligence" seems to largely be determined…

"Women tend to be more interested in individual relationships than men, and you can't have a relationship with a computer." OK, firstly, my Mac started crying when he read that. Poor mac! Secondly, the broad generalisations that you make about men and women is exactly the problem. Here's a hint: Women working in IT, and particularly programming, are there precisely because we too are interested in technical subjects…

The whole point of my post is that it is a general observation. If the genders naturally have this qualitative vs quantitative distinction in their interests, then the lack of women in quantitative disciplines is a straightforward implication.

I can see the problem if women don't naturally have such interests and they're somehow forced to be this way through societal expectations. But is this really the case?

Re: Where Did All the Girl Geeks Go?

#32

Post by yters »

xlnt wrote: post #25
yters wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People aren't analyzable by computers, at least on an individual basis. Women tend to be more interested in individual relationships than men, and you can't have a relationship with a computer. In my opinion, it is pretty obvious from the clearly differing motivations of the genders why there is such a gender divide in academics. Maybe it has to do with intelligence, but "intelligence" seems to largely be determined…

If the reason that there are less women in technical subjects is that their minds have been crippled by their upbringing (at a higher rate, for these particular subjects), then that is an important problem.

I think that is partially true based on anecdotal evidence from a friend who tutors students in math. But still, there seem to be intrinsic differences between the genders in the general nature of their interests.

I don't think this is bad. Women are obviously much smarter than men in certain areas of life and it has been said that behind every great man there is an even better woman. What needs to happen is for us to realize the mind's quantitative abilities are not the only important aspect of the mind.

Anyways, I don't think women should be purposefully kept from quantitative disciplines. I think the system should be entirely merit based and if women want to be technical then they should do the same work as men.

Re: Where Did All the Girl Geeks Go?

#33

Post by xlnt »

yters wrote: post #32
xlnt wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the reason that there are less women in technical subjects is that their minds have been crippled by their upbringing (at a higher rate, for these particular subjects), then that is an important problem.

I think that is partially true based on anecdotal evidence from a friend who tutors students in math. But still, there seem to be intrinsic differences between the genders in the general nature of their interests. I don't think this is bad. Women are obviously much smarter than men in certain areas of life and it has been said that behind every great man there is an even better woman. What needs to happen is for us t…

I deny that the theory of genetic male/female differences in what interests one has (or tends to have) is plausible. I think it is like astrology. One takes something, and says it causes something else, for no reason. One needs an explanation of how it causes it.

Of course there are observed gender differences. Culture can explain that. We can actually explain how culture could cause all of the observed effects. With genetics there isn't any explanation.

Re: Where Did All the Girl Geeks Go?

#34

Post by DaniFong »

xlnt wrote: post #24
DaniFong wrote: post #19

"Some studies have shown that as soon as girls turn 12—and maybe now it is even younger—they're so into their social image and being liked by boys that they dumb themselves down so not to be seen as a geek," Yusupova said." I wonder if this has more to do with western high schools than our culture at large. I dropped out on my twelfth birthday . While I did encounter social pressure to move into more sanctioned roles…

gender stereotyping by parents begins at birth.

That's true. But stereotyping happens by degrees.

Re: Where Did All the Girl Geeks Go?

#35

Post by yters »

xlnt wrote: post #33
yters wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that is partially true based on anecdotal evidence from a friend who tutors students in math. But still, there seem to be intrinsic differences between the genders in the general nature of their interests. I don't think this is bad. Women are obviously much smarter than men in certain areas of life and it has been said that behind every great man there is an even better woman. What needs to happen is for us t…

I deny that the theory of genetic male/female differences in what interests one has (or tends to have) is plausible. I think it is like astrology. One takes something, and says it causes something else, for no reason. One needs an explanation of how it causes it. Of course there are observed gender differences. Culture can explain that. We can actually explain how culture could cause all of the observed effects. With…

What about physiology, such as the differences between the brains? Also, until we completely separate procreation from reproduction, men and women will have different social roles, which underlies the cultural influences you mention.
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