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Path: utzoo!watmath!csc
From: csc@watmath.UUCP (Computer Sci Club)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Sex differences
Message-ID: <7768@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-May-84 11:13:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: watmath.7768
Posted: Wed May 16 11:13:53 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 17-May-84 02:21:20 EDT
References: <800@cbneb.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 39

A few comments on replies to my article.

Someone substitued race for sex.  I do not disagree with this substitution.
However not that in neither case do I think that the results will or can
prove racial or sexual "superiority".  Judge mathmeticans by how they do
math, not what race, sex etc. they are.  

Insufficient evidence does not equate to no evidence.  Several submissions
have included anecdotal evidence that social preasures are responsible
for observed differences in mathematical preformance.  I do not deny,
ignore or disagree with this evidence, and could add some more from my
own experience.  I think that it is almost certain that social preasures
play some role in explaining the differences.  Whether they are the only
cause, or the major cause is something that can only be determined by
careful study.  I am not aware of any careful studies in this area (if
anyone is please inform me, I have not actively researched this are and
may easily have missed much).  I am aware of a predjudice against making
such studies "as they will only prove what is already known".

I would consider a proof that on the average men are better at math than
women to be dangerous knowledge because of the way it might be applied.
The statement "on the average men are better at math than women" can be
all to easily perverted to, Susan is female, females are no good at math,
therefore Susan is no good at math, therefore she should not be helped
or encouraged.  This is the immature attitude referred to in the original
article. 

I used math as an example because it is a dramatic one (higher math is
heavily dominated by men) and it is one that touches me closely. I do
not consider it to be the only example or even maintain that it is
a particularly important one.

I hope that social preasures are the only cause of the observed differences.
If this is so we have the oppertunity to dramaticly increase the number
of top flight mathematicians.  I do not confuse my hopes with facts.

                                                  William Hughes