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A Plan On How To Stop Sexism In Science
StartsWithABang writes: If there's nothing else that science has to offer, it's this elegant notion: that anyone, anywhere, at anytime, can investigate and uncover the mysteries and workings of the Universe simply by asking it the right questions in the right ways, listening to its answers, and putting the pieces together for themselves. Anyone can do it. Only, for various and sundry reasons, not everyone gets to do it. Some people don't have the economic ability, some don't have the sustained drive or interest, and some simply can't cut the mustard. But some people — some really, really good people — are driven from their passions for a sad, simple and completely unnecessary fact: that they were treated in unacceptable ways that they refused to just accept. And in a great many cases, that unacceptable treatment came simply because of their gender. Sexism sometimes looks like what you expect, and sometimes not. Here's one opinion on what we can all do about it to create the world we really want: where science really is for everyone.
As a male, white middle-aged STEM researcher: Yes, there is pervasive, often painfully (and legally prosecutable) obvious sexism in science. And while I can imagine that many fields are even worse, that doesn't put science off the hook.
Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
I love how the headline and summary just unquestioningly accepts the premise that there is sexism in science and that something MUST be done about it--all based on the single data point that there are more men in STEM than women.
Had you bothered to read the article you would have found out that there is copious evidence of sexism in science. And yes, something should be done about it. Why you would think we should be letting that sort of thing go is rather worrisome. Do you want to keep talented women out of the sciences for some bizarre reason? Your attitude seems to be clear evidence of sexism by itself.
If an unbalanced gender ratio is all you need to prove sexism, then doesn't it follow that the Nursing and Elementary Education fields are even MORE sexist than STEM (and even more in need of attention)?
That is not the entirety of the evidence of sexism in STEM. If you think the gender imbalance is the entirety of the evidence for sexism then you are likely part of the problem.