Women Lack 'Natural Ability' In Some Fields, Harvard President Says

[apnu]

We are taught that sexism is a bunch of men sitting around talking about women as "skirts" and "dolls" and that they should be in the kitchen baking pot-pies if South Park's Cartman is to be believed. But the truth of sexism, like racism, is very different from what we are popularly taught, it is a quiet thing working in the background like a cavity that your aren't aware of. Sexism lives in a world today that is very institutionalized and its perpetrators go to great lengths to explain away their actions. Prattling about 'quotas' and seeking academics to reinforce their asinine and out-dated perspectives. (Oddly enough we have a history of doing this with white on black racism but explaining why we do it is out of fashion right now.)

And so, I give to you a shining example of modern sexism -- the president of Harvard University says there aren't many women in the maths and sciences because they lack 'natural ability' in those subjects. Funny enough, he tries to explain it as a hypothesis and not his private views -- as if that makes it all the better. Oh how I loathe thee, let me count the ways

http://www.local6.com/education/4090001/detail.html


CAMBRIDGE, Mass -- The president of Harvard University prompted criticism for suggesting that innate differences between the sexes could help explain why fewer women succeed in science and math careers.

Lawrence H. Summers, speaking Friday at an economic conference, also questioned how great a role discrimination plays in keeping female scientists and engineers from advancing at elite universities.

The remarks prompted Massachusetts Institute of Technology biologist Nancy Hopkins - a Harvard graduate - to walk out on Summers' talk, The Boston Globe reported.

"It is so upsetting that all these brilliant young women (at Harvard) are being led by a man who views them this way," Hopkins said later.