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Path: utzoo!watmath!csc
From: csc@watmath.UUCP (Computer Sci Club)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: ET sex roles, request for clarification
Message-ID: <7735@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 13-May-84 14:41:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: watmath.7735
Posted: Sun May 13 14:41:13 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 14-May-84 00:21:39 EDT
References: <191@bolton.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 31


Why is it that it is taken for granted that all observed gender
differences other than the gross physical ones are assumed to 
be due entirely to social conditioning.  The evidence is by no
means clear on this subject.
   If a scientist were to do a study which tended to show there
were structural differences between the sexes which helped to
explain the domination of men in math and physics, this scientist
would be immediately branded sexist.  No matter if his research
methods were impeccable.  No matter if he judges his collegues
and students soley on the basis of their work.  He has come
up with a conclusion which is philisophically wrong and thus
cannot be valid.
    I am certian that there will be those who will attack me
for saying men are inherently better at math than women.  I have
said no such thing nor do I hold this opinion.  There is simply
insufficient evidence to do so.  However, I do not hold the
opinion that the observed differences are due to "*training*".
There is insufficient evidence to support this conclusion.
   A friend of mine (Tracy Tims sometime contributer to this
forum) agrees, but says that if (repeat if! (emphasis mine))
such differences exist it would be a bad idea to prove this
as society is unlikely to react to such information in a mature
manner.  I do not agree.  The knowledge would in fact be
dangerous knowledge, but dangerous knowledge should be faced
not ignored.
   With regard to people equality does not imply identity.
There are observed differnces between the sexes.  Let us
study these differences with open minds.
                                          William Hughes