Wednesday, August 6, 2008 7-8:30 pm
Topic Host: Mike Morrill
I apologzie for the lateness of the articles everyone, I have been busy trying to finish my thesis. The first three pieces relate to women and their underrepresentation in the physical sciences. I'd like to hone in on what this phenomena means to us as individuals and as a nation (which includes it possibly not meaning anything at all).
From another direction, I've included a couple articles on body image, its effects on how we perceive nonphysical traits.
If a connection can be found between these loosely related topics, I think it would contain some great lessons. Sadly, I was unable to find a good piece relating to that junction. Carri articulates that question as follows:
What's missing for me, however, is some argument about whether body image in an industry that is purely physical can have anything interesting to teach us about the gender expectations in an industry that is purely intellectual...(or vice versa).
I'd like everyone to think about that point. If we come up with some questions worth asking, great. If not, there is still plenty to discuss.
I can't wait to hear what everyone has to say,
Mike
A NYT overview of Women in Science
Dr. Woods, an administrator in the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, reminded the young women of research in which academics were asked to judge the otherwise identical résumés of people who were identified as Ken, Karen or K. In these studies, she said, Ken consistently comes out on top. “You are in a male-dominated field,” Dr. Woods said. “You have to present yourself in a way that assures them you know your technical stuff.”
The axe is sharp on both sides.What is the purpose of "equality" in the physical sciences? Equal opportunity or equal representation?
How it works.
The Dumber you Act, The More Promotions You Get: The Feminine Dilbert Principle.
But Why Male Models?
“I personally think that it’s the consumer that’s doing this, and fashion is just responding,” said Kelly Cutrone, the founder of People’s Revolution, a fashion branding and production company. “No one wants a beautiful women or a beautiful man anymore.” In terms of image, the current preference is for beauty that is not fully evolved. “People are afraid to look over 21 or make any statement of what it means to be adult,” Ms. Cutrone said.
The Larry Summers speech that got him fired*
"There may also be elements, by the way, of differing, there is some, particularly in some attributes, that bear on engineering, there is reasonably strong evidence of taste differences between little girls and little boys that are not easy to attribute to socialization."
Are they more than heels or aren't they?*
They are a diverse group. Stacey Gardner, the usual holder of suitcase No. 2, graduated from law school and says she passed the California bar exam in 2005. Pilar Lastra, No. 14, was Playboy’s Miss August 2004. Aliké Boggan, No. 20, interprets services for the hearing-impaired at her church. Aubrie Lemon, who usually carries No. 23 but who was No. 6 at a recent taping, plays the harp and says she passed the qualifying exam for Mensa. “It’s nice to kind of exercise my brain a little bit and show I still have it up there,” Ms. Lemon said. “It can just go numb if you sit here for 10 or 12 hours. But a lot of us here are very smart. You would be surprised because we all have this Barbie-doll facade.”
*Optional articles
Topic Host: Mike Morrill
I apologzie for the lateness of the articles everyone, I have been busy trying to finish my thesis. The first three pieces relate to women and their underrepresentation in the physical sciences. I'd like to hone in on what this phenomena means to us as individuals and as a nation (which includes it possibly not meaning anything at all).
From another direction, I've included a couple articles on body image, its effects on how we perceive nonphysical traits.
If a connection can be found between these loosely related topics, I think it would contain some great lessons. Sadly, I was unable to find a good piece relating to that junction. Carri articulates that question as follows:
What's missing for me, however, is some argument about whether body image in an industry that is purely physical can have anything interesting to teach us about the gender expectations in an industry that is purely intellectual...(or vice versa).
I'd like everyone to think about that point. If we come up with some questions worth asking, great. If not, there is still plenty to discuss.
I can't wait to hear what everyone has to say,
Mike
A NYT overview of Women in Science
Dr. Woods, an administrator in the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, reminded the young women of research in which academics were asked to judge the otherwise identical résumés of people who were identified as Ken, Karen or K. In these studies, she said, Ken consistently comes out on top. “You are in a male-dominated field,” Dr. Woods said. “You have to present yourself in a way that assures them you know your technical stuff.”
The axe is sharp on both sides.What is the purpose of "equality" in the physical sciences? Equal opportunity or equal representation?
How it works.
The Dumber you Act, The More Promotions You Get: The Feminine Dilbert Principle.
But Why Male Models?
“I personally think that it’s the consumer that’s doing this, and fashion is just responding,” said Kelly Cutrone, the founder of People’s Revolution, a fashion branding and production company. “No one wants a beautiful women or a beautiful man anymore.” In terms of image, the current preference is for beauty that is not fully evolved. “People are afraid to look over 21 or make any statement of what it means to be adult,” Ms. Cutrone said.
The Larry Summers speech that got him fired*
"There may also be elements, by the way, of differing, there is some, particularly in some attributes, that bear on engineering, there is reasonably strong evidence of taste differences between little girls and little boys that are not easy to attribute to socialization."
Are they more than heels or aren't they?*
They are a diverse group. Stacey Gardner, the usual holder of suitcase No. 2, graduated from law school and says she passed the California bar exam in 2005. Pilar Lastra, No. 14, was Playboy’s Miss August 2004. Aliké Boggan, No. 20, interprets services for the hearing-impaired at her church. Aubrie Lemon, who usually carries No. 23 but who was No. 6 at a recent taping, plays the harp and says she passed the qualifying exam for Mensa. “It’s nice to kind of exercise my brain a little bit and show I still have it up there,” Ms. Lemon said. “It can just go numb if you sit here for 10 or 12 hours. But a lot of us here are very smart. You would be surprised because we all have this Barbie-doll facade.”
*Optional articles
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