Comments on: A bit more about gender and science http://blog.richmond.edu/physicsbunn/2012/09/24/a-bit-more-about-gender-and-science/ Department of Physics Fri, 17 May 2013 11:27:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Brent Follin http://blog.richmond.edu/physicsbunn/2012/09/24/a-bit-more-about-gender-and-science/comment-page-1/#comment-221104 Brent Follin Fri, 28 Sep 2012 03:01:27 +0000 http://blog.richmond.edu/physicsbunn/?p=553#comment-221104 This doesn't directly address the gender gap in the field, but there was a recent experiment* that showed spending a half hour of class time writing about personal interests (not necessarily related to physics) eliminated the gender gap in success in introductory physics classes (as measured in final exam grades). There is definitely a long path between better grades in Physics 101 and more female role models in the field (the likely long-term answer to the gender gap in physics), but definitely a practical starting point. *which I read about here: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/11/25/15-minute-writing-exercise-closes-the-gender-gap-in-university-level-physics/ This doesn’t directly address the gender gap in the field, but there was a recent experiment* that showed spending a half hour of class time writing about personal interests (not necessarily related to physics) eliminated the gender gap in success in introductory physics classes (as measured in final exam grades). There is definitely a long path between better grades in Physics 101 and more female role models in the field (the likely long-term answer to the gender gap in physics), but definitely a practical starting point.

*which I read about here: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/11/25/15-minute-writing-exercise-closes-the-gender-gap-in-university-level-physics/

]]> By: Phillip Helbig http://blog.richmond.edu/physicsbunn/2012/09/24/a-bit-more-about-gender-and-science/comment-page-1/#comment-220962 Phillip Helbig Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:01:07 +0000 http://blog.richmond.edu/physicsbunn/?p=553#comment-220962 Of course, one can move beyond just male/female to the question of gender bias, where gender is understood in a broader sense. Four points: Those concerned with equality should be concerned with equality in every field, not just their own field and not just fields which are generally seen as positive. Second, one should not <I>assume</I> that a lack of equality is due to a lack of opportunity. There are certainly fields where this is the case, but, logically, it does not automatically follow that any lack of equality is due to lack of opportunity. If one does make this assumption, then forcing equality when the reason for the lack of it is not the lack of equal opportunity is not a desirable goal. Third, don't look exclusively at the financial aspects. Fourth: be inclusive. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi and trans) is now the standard initialism (though it grew out of less inclusive terms and there are proposed more inclusive terms which are not yet that common). While it might be more or less accepted in some societies to be in a long-term monogamous homosexual relationship, polyamorous people are in some respects in the same situation gays were in 30 or 40 years ago. Of course, one can move beyond just male/female to the question of gender bias, where gender is understood in a broader sense.

Four points: Those concerned with equality should be concerned with equality in every field, not just their own field and not just fields which are generally seen as positive. Second, one should not assume that a lack of equality is due to a lack of opportunity. There are certainly fields where this is the case, but, logically, it does not automatically follow that any lack of equality is due to lack of opportunity. If one does make this assumption, then forcing equality when the reason for the lack of it is not the lack of equal opportunity is not a desirable goal. Third, don’t look exclusively at the financial aspects. Fourth: be inclusive. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi and trans) is now the standard initialism (though it grew out of less inclusive terms and there are proposed more inclusive terms which are not yet that common). While it might be more or less accepted in some societies to be in a long-term monogamous homosexual relationship, polyamorous people are in some respects in the same situation gays were in 30 or 40 years ago.

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