I don't believe we have commented yet about the flap surrounding the statement by Harvard University president Lawrence Summers in which he questioned whether discrimination is entirely responsible for the dearth of female professors in science and engineering at America's elite universities. Summers had the audacity to suggest that innate differences in math and science aptitude between men and women might be partly responsible.

My views on the matter are essentially those expressed by Linda Chavez in the Washington Times. As Chavez notes, "Mr. Summers was really just articulating what most researchers in this area believe -- that biology plays a bigger role in [differences in ability in mathematical and scientific achievement] than socialization does." This is also true when it comes to verbal achievement, except that here women out perform men.

Chavez also notes that feminist Nancy Hopkins, a biologist at MIT, is said to have responded to Summers by citing studies indicating that "women score higher on math tests if there are fewer men in the room while they are taking the test." I know I'm missing something, but doesn't it seem odd that feminists would be interested in embracing "studies" that portray women as so stereotypically fragile?

For her part, Hopkins reported that, upon hearing Summers' remarks, "I felt I was going to be sick. . . .My heart was pounding and my breath was shallow." But why should she project her own fragility onto other women?

Posted by Paul at 01:30 PM  |    |  

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/mt/mt-diespammers.cgi/9342

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The mysteries of feminism:

» The Summers Problem from L'Ombre de l'Olivier
I may have been a bit too quick to rush to the defense of Larry Summers, as a number of ladies have pointed out that while he may have been correct, he also should have thought what the likely response would have been. [Read More]

Tracked on January 22, 2005 04:38 PM

» Feminism, or a return to Victorian stereotypes? from EtherHouse
Over at Powerline, deacon posts about the flap over Harvard's president saying there may be genetic reasons for the disparity in the number of male vs female scientists and mathematicians. Chavez also notes that feminist Nancy Hopkins, a biologist at M... [Read More]

Tracked on January 22, 2005 05:03 PM

» Women, math, and iron deficiency anemia from Jacqueline Mackie Paisley Passey
There has been a lot of chatter in the blogosphere about Harvard President Lawrence Summers’ recent speech at a conference on women and minorities in science and engineering. He said that one possible explanation for the low numbers of women [Read More]

Tracked on January 22, 2005 08:25 PM

» A Good Rhetorical Question for Summers Critic Nanc from As the Top of the World Turns
I suppose I'd induce heart-failure if I suggested that if she can't stand the heat, she should get out of the kitchen. So I won't make that suggestion. [Read More]

Tracked on January 22, 2005 09:45 PM

» The Ultimate Neocon? from Ed Driscoll.com
Michael Rosen writes that Harvard's Lawrence Summers has won unlikely plaudits from conservatives by willing to upset the sacred cows of academia. Power Line and Patricia Hausman also have some thoughts.... [Read More]

Tracked on January 22, 2005 10:06 PM

» The Ultimate Neocon? from Ed Driscoll.com
Michael Rosen writes that Harvard's Lawrence Summers has won unlikely plaudits from conservatives by willing to upset the sacred cows of academia. Power Line and Ruth Marcus also have some thoughts.... [Read More]

Tracked on January 22, 2005 10:08 PM

» OK Powerline, how 'bout backing this up with a link? from blogs for industry
I was hoping to move on from the Summers nonsense, but then I saw this while reading the http://powerlineblog.com/archives/009282.phpBlog of the Year My views on the matter are essentially those expressed by Linda Chavez in the Washington Times. As Ch... [Read More]

Tracked on January 23, 2005 03:27 AM

» Men aren't women? from In Search of a Clue
One of the main problems of groupthink is that few, if any, question the status quo of ideas. This is abundantly true in our universities. People are compelled to think a certain way without any compelling evidence for thinking that way. [Read More]

Tracked on January 23, 2005 10:34 AM

» The endless Summers from blogs for industry
Today on This Week, George Will laid out the new CW on Larry Summers - academia (and esp. Harvard) is too PC to handle a provocative discussion. Apparently Mr. Will thinks that discussion shouldn't include criticism. It's striking that Will thinks Su... [Read More]

Tracked on January 23, 2005 12:57 PM

» That's not discrimination from Current Events
The press has recently given a lot of press to... [Read More]

Tracked on January 23, 2005 06:48 PM

» That's not discrimination from Current Events
The press has recently given a lot of press to... [Read More]

Tracked on January 23, 2005 06:53 PM

» That's not discrimination from Current Events
The press has recently given a lot of press to... [Read More]

Tracked on January 24, 2005 03:27 PM

» That's not discrimination from Current Events
The press has recently given a lot of press to... [Read More]

Tracked on January 24, 2005 06:17 PM

» That's not discrimination from Current Events
The press has recently given a lot of press to... [Read More]

Tracked on January 24, 2005 06:19 PM