Spotlight Blogger: Sheril Kirshenbaum
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There is No

Gender Gap in STEM

December 21, 2011 1:02 pm by Virginia DeBolt in Tech
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The journal Science recently published a study debunking the idea that there are gender differences in the ability of men and women to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Sheril Kirshenbaum, who blogs at Culture of Science talks about the study in this post. She writes,

Over the summer I had a delightful time at IdeaCity, but one particular talk annoyed me tremendously; A speaker claimed that boys are innately better at math and science than girls. And unfortunately, there was no Q&A.

So I’m extremely pleased to see the new article in Science mag setting the record straight. Such notions about natural differences between our abilities are not only personally insulting, they perpetuate a negative message to young women and men interested in STEM regarding social expectations. So I hope the Lawrence H. Summers of the world will take note.

women and men in engineering at Ohio State
Image Credit: Ohio State Engineering

Read more from This Time It’s Personal: Women In STEM at Culture of Science

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Delia Coleman
Delia Coleman

No, we didn't need a study to say girls and boys have equal capacity for STEM fields and performance. But that it's needed to stop asshats from saying 'girls just don't have the brainpower for STEM fields and that's why there's a gender gap in the field'? Yes. (sigh)

Shirley Miranda
Shirley Miranda

No we didn't NEED a study to find this out, but there's still a gender gap unfortunately. Hopefully, this will make girls to see that they CAN do it... and just as importantly, the adults in their lives see that they can and ENCOURAGE them to.