Comments on: International Women’s Day

By: Luke Lea

Luke Lea — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 06:43:57 +0000

Thanks for taking the time. I guess what I was wondering was whether “instinctual dislikes” might trump “dispassionate analysis”? Not that there is anything wrong with that necessarily.

By: Luke

Luke — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:39:29 +0000

I assume you are talking about US results there – the US has a particularly large gap between male and females in maths, compared to countries like Japan and Norway, which have a much smaller difference. The gap between males and females differs from country to country (and this gap can be predicted by other measures of gender equality); this cultural variation, while not strong evidence for cultural determination, does make concluding that the differences are genetically driven unwise.

I do not know the specific breakdown of genetic versus cultural contribution to various traits between the sexes. I am sure that some genetic contribution will be discovered for mathematical ability, though how large it is still up for grabs (as is the direction, though less so). All I know, and the only point I am making in this post, is that the beliefs that women are genetically either worse or more variable at mathematical, scientific or technical ability is evidenced, and (from the strength with which people belief it, compared to the evidence in its favour) I expect is down to prejudice.

And I have no more time for the “women are genetically more expressive/empathic ” claims. If I am being honest, I do have a stronger instinctual dislike of statements claiming men’s emotional intelligence is inferior than I do of claims that women’s technical ability is inferior. Not that I think this is a good response, and instinctual dislike should not be used as a justification for beliefs, but it is my immediate emotion response.

By: Luke Lea

Luke Lea — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:21:32 +0000

Out of curiousity, how would you explain the relatively low fraction of females scoring a perfect 800 on the maths portion of the SAT, given that both sexes take the test in equal numbers?

Suppose the evidence indicated genetic factors causing differences in verbal aptitude (as opposed to math) that favored the female population. Would you be more inclined to comment on it?

Please answer honestly, or not if you prefer.

By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:48:04 +0000

What I said was that men tend to show various opinions about what older women are like, in terms of their attractiveness, personaility and relationship goals, which are demonstratably not based on the observable evidence.

Is there a particular statement I’ve made that you think is incorrect?

By: Will

Will — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:57:53 +0000

So you think that mens stronger preference for women under 40 is a product of social conditioning? Despite rampant infertility in those female age groups? Do you really believe that biology plays such an insignificant role in sexual attraction?

By: Hannah

Hannah — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:45:01 +0000

Thanks for posting about this. And everyone should go and read OKTrends, good for eyeopening!