I believe very firmly that women should be paid and rewarded in exactly the same way as men for equal jobs. However, I do not believe that all men and all women are similarly equipped (physically or mentally) to be able to perform tasks with the same degree of proficiency. To say that women and men should have equal representation in all careers seems ridiculous to me. It goes against centuries of practical experience, modern scientific research, and common sense.

Gender Discrimination in Academia
A National Academies report issued on Sept. 18, 2006 states that women are discriminated against in academia. Male science and engineering PhD’s hold four times more faculty positions than female science and engineering PhD’s. That is, only one in four faculty positions are held by women. The report also notes that women tend to be promoted more slowly and receive fewer honors. A clear case of discrimination, apparently.

Gender Differences in Science and Technology
The report also claims that, “Studies have not found any significant biological differences between men and women in performing science and mathematics that can account for the lower representation of women in academic faculty and leadership positions in [science and technology] fields”. Hmmm. While I agree that the biological differences between men and women probably don’t affect their science and math performance, what about their aptitudes, motivations, and simple preference? In short; what about their empathizing and systemizing tendencies?

Natural Selection in Career Choice
It seems reasonable to suppose that men and women with “systemizing” tendencies have more desire to enter, and innate skills to succeed in, the fields of science and technology. Prof. Simon Baron-Cohen’s studies indicate that 53% of men have systemizing brains compared to 17% of women. This means that we could expect one out of every four systemizing (vis-à-vis science and technology) jobs to be filled by a woman. It looks as if academia has got it right–but there’s no unfair gender discrimination. That women are promoted more slowly and receive fewer honors is no surprise. More women than men choose to take time out for family and children over careers. Like it or not, this IS going to affect career prospects for women.

Unconscious Prejudice in the Workplace
The truth is that we all have unconscious biases for or against whole groups of people (men, women, Afro-Americans, Jews, gays) that manifest themselves in the way we treat individuals. You can measure your own biases using the Implicit Association Test discussed in last week’s column. We should all be wary of prejudice (in the sence of preconceived judgment) against individuals, but this does not mean that we should fill job vacancies with equal quotas of men and women regardless of their underlying talents. Call me prejudiced, but I want the most qualified (education and aptitude) team of scientists and engineers to design and build, for example, my child’s car seat so that it is as safe as it possibly could be. I don’t care if the team comprises men or women, but I definitely want four systemizers. If that means 3 men and one woman, so be it.

But I want an empathizer to choose the upholstery.

Sources:
• Broad National Effort Urgently Needed To Maximize Potential of Women Scientists and Engineers in Academia, The National Academies News

About the author
Katrina Boydon is a systemizing female with empathizing traits. She is as likely to be found crying over a sad film as balancing her bank account to the last cent.