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Men And Women Think Women Are Bad At Basic Math

Posted by Unknown on from the my-mom-makes-fun-of-me-for-sucking-at-diff-eq dept.

sciencehabit writes "Think women can't do math? You're wrong — but new research (paywalled) shows you might not change your mind, even if you get evidence to the contrary. A study of how both men and women perceive each other's mathematical ability finds that an unconscious bias against women — by both men and women — could be skewing hiring decisions, widening the gender gap in mathematical professions like engineering."

3 of 384 comments (clear)

  1. ARITHMETIC, not maths by petes_PoV · · Score: 3, Informative
    From the article:

    The job was simple: As accurately and quickly as possible, add up sets of two-digit numbers in a 4-minute math sprint.

    So really the article is bogus as they are two different things (and if you think otherwise, it's probably because you've only every done arthimetic and don't really know what mathematics is).

    As it is, anyone in the UK who's ever watched Countdown will have been disabused very rapidly of any anti-woman bias in arthimetic skills.

    --
    politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
  2. Re:arithmetic is not math [Re:In my experience] by Sique · · Score: 4, Informative
    No, not just arithmetic, you also learn algebra by rote memorization and constant exercise. With time this helps you to spot regularities and later you are able to see possible solutions in complex mathematical problems.

    There are experiments about what helps pupils best to get better with mathematics, and it has been shown that drill and constant exercise is the most effective way, even for complexer mathematical problems.

    --
    .sig: Sique *sigh*
  3. Re:Life extension is bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative
    You mean like how we prevented childbirth in hospitals and childhood vaccinations because of the problems caused by all the kids growing up into adults? Like that? We'll find social solutions or we'll scale back our arrangements right here on Earth. We're not going anywhere else.

    Advanced, wealthier nations already have a lower birth rate than poorer countries, the solution is staring you in the face.