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Study finds U.S. bias against women in science
Reuters ^ | Sept 18, 2006

Posted on 09/21/2006 2:56:20 PM PDT by presidio9

Women are being filtered out of high-level science, math and engineering jobs in the United States, and there is no good reason for it, according to a National Academies report released on Monday.

A committee of experts looked at all the possible excuses — biological differences in ability, hormonal influences, childrearing demands, and even differences in ambition — and found no good explanation for why women are being locked out.

"Compared with men, women faculty members are generally paid less and promoted more slowly, receive fewer honors, and hold fewer leadership positions," the Academies said in a statement.

"These discrepancies do not appear to be based on productivity, the significance of their work, or any other performance measures."

Female minorities fare the worst, the study found. And the expert panel said the discrepancies are costing the country many talented leaders and researchers and recommended immediate and far-reaching changes to change the balance.

"We found no significant biological differences between men and women in science, engineering and mathematics that could account for the lower representation of women in academic faculty and scientific leadership positions," said Donna Shalala, president of the University of Miami and head of the committee that wrote the report.

The study was compiled by all the National Academies — the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine — which advise Congress, the federal government, and various institutions.

"It is not a lack of talent but an unintended bias ... that is locking women out," Shalala, a former

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: genderpolitics; makemeaturkeypotpie; penisenvy; waaaaaaaa
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To: Hawkeye's Girl
I'm a female in an generally all male profession. Men are great to work with.

The few women that worked for us were "quiters". They couldn't cut it and weren't willing to give the time required for getting to the top.

My granddaughter LOVES mathematics. She's perfect for my profession. None of us can spell!!!

21 posted on 09/21/2006 3:23:13 PM PDT by Sacajaweau (God Bless Our Troops!!)
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To: presidio9

so, they found explanations, but they weren't considered "good" explanations....


22 posted on 09/21/2006 3:27:56 PM PDT by GodfearingTexan
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To: Sacajaweau; Hawkeye's Girl

girls... we ALWAYS have exception. My other-half has the MS degree and she's the director of engineering with hundreds engineers and scientists under her. I hope she doesn't read this board :)


23 posted on 09/21/2006 3:29:59 PM PDT by Toidylop
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To: Mongeaux

Nice find.


24 posted on 09/21/2006 3:40:41 PM PDT by Jaysun (Idiot Muslims. They're just dying to have sex orgies.)
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To: presidio9
Private enterprise seeks out the most competent and effective people, regardless of sex, race, or any other irrelevant factor. That's why the vast majority of NBA players are tall, male, and black. They are the most competent and effective people for the job. If the government became involved in basketball the most any fan could hope for is an occasional flash of mediocrity. That's why capitalism works and socialism doesn't work.
25 posted on 09/21/2006 3:46:25 PM PDT by layman (Card Carrying Infidel)
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To: presidio9
Image hosted by Photobucket.com they want QUOTAS??? diversity for diversity's sake is pure bullsh!t!!!
26 posted on 09/21/2006 3:46:57 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: Hawkeye's Girl

Agreed. I hear more "but it's hard" or "I don't know how you do it!" from women when they talk about computers (I am a programmer). In my experience the majority of the women in our computer science program in college wanted to A. work in middle management B. do something technology-related, but not programming or C. teach. I admit that I would love to teach if it paid better.


27 posted on 09/21/2006 3:52:00 PM PDT by Kaylee Frye
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To: Idaho Whacko

Especially if you are a female, lesbian, minority, disabled female engineer with a great set of knockers!


28 posted on 09/21/2006 3:52:06 PM PDT by montomike (If you didn't find this funny and were offended...have a riot.)
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To: Mongeaux

Anyone's b.s. detector should be on full alert when any supposedly "objective" report has a leftist fraud like Donna Shalalalaaaa associated with it.... maybe the committee's competent, maybe it's not, but seeing the name Donna Shalala associated with it is good reason to suspect that the fix was in....


29 posted on 09/21/2006 4:08:56 PM PDT by Enchante (There are 3 kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and the Drive-By Media)
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To: SF Republican

I have a degree in engineering from 20 years ago. Back then, there weren't many women in my science, math, and engineering classes.

Maybe women don't want to be engineers, scientists, etc.

I'm not going to recommend the career to my daughters, one of who is much smarter than I ever was. They are not good careers to have if you also want to be a mom.

One of my daughters is great at math, so I am encouraging her to be an accountant. She'll be able to work part-time when she is a mom.

I think my extremely gifted daughter will make a great teacher. I don't see her in the corporate world. She is not competitive. She also loves homemaking activities like sewing, cooking, etc. She's smarter than my son (who is also very smart), but she just has a different personality.


30 posted on 09/21/2006 4:22:22 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: Hawkeye's Girl

You are correct, and I have a degree in computer science. I was originally a chemical engineering major, and there were very few women in that degree. Computer science had more women in it than chemical engineering, but we were still the minority.


31 posted on 09/21/2006 4:24:07 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: Idaho Whacko

Please tell me how to get a part-time job with my engineering degree. I am looking for part-time work, and I don't even know where to begin.


32 posted on 09/21/2006 4:25:30 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: Sacajaweau

What do you do? One of my daughters has speech problems, can't spell, and is slow at reading. However, she is great at math!!!!!!!! I'm thinking she would make a great accountant. She loves money and math.


33 posted on 09/21/2006 4:26:52 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: luckystarmom
Image hosted by Photobucket.com manpower.com, kellygirl.com, addecco.com, monster.com like everybody else... manpower will prolly be closest to where you live though.
34 posted on 09/21/2006 4:39:53 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: presidio9

And I'm up against women too, every chance I get.


35 posted on 09/21/2006 4:51:15 PM PDT by R.W.Ratikal
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To: SF Republican

I don't know what they're talking about. Women tend to be attracted to the life sciences. If you look at the numbers of women in medical school or in doctoral programs in the biological sciences, or if you look at the citations in major journals, you'll see a lot of women. Women like studying living things; it's in our genes. Not many of us like rocks, physics, and math (though my cousin does physics at a major university).

Many women also don't do as well with spacial relationships than men do, so we are also less attracted to chemistry and physics.

I do think expectations have something to do with it. I know families in which there are very, very bright, talented girls who are sincerely interested in the sciences and would like to be physicians or researchers, but are actively discouraged by less-educated, unsupportive parents.


36 posted on 09/21/2006 4:51:56 PM PDT by Fairview
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To: R.W.Ratikal
And I'm up against women too, every chance I get.

This reminds me of the immortal words of Brother Dave Gardner:

"If you're against women you're for them, and if you're for them you're against them."

37 posted on 09/21/2006 5:05:21 PM PDT by OldPossum
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To: Hawkeye's Girl
Most women hate science, math, and engineering.

My wife hates math, science and engineering. I must be preventing her from liking these subjects, so I must be sexist...

38 posted on 09/21/2006 5:09:06 PM PDT by SteamShovel
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To: Fairview

I think elementary teachers (don't have experience with older teachers yet) are also not very supportive of boys or girls that are good in math and science.


39 posted on 09/21/2006 5:15:48 PM PDT by luckystarmom
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To: luckystarmom

Is she dyslexic? My husbands math teacher is a mild dyslexic.


40 posted on 09/21/2006 5:29:34 PM PDT by hootiebird
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