WomenInIT: Women In Information Technology

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. In a statement released Monday night, Summers said his remarks were misconstrued as suggesting that women lack the ability to succeed at the highest levels of math and science. "I did not say that, nor do I believe it," he said. Summers said he is deeply committed "to the advancement of women in science."

One blogger comments:

Girls and young women in North America seem to do pretty darn well until they encounter the bullshit that is the culture of old-boy scientific and technical education. Then, amazingly, the genetic difference seems to kick in, somewhere between first year of undergrad and getting tenure and senior management positions. It must be a sort of delayed thing. As evidence, Summers cited his young daughter who played with trucks and named them mummy and daddy trucks. I had trucks too and I lost them in the sandbox, which clearly demonstrates my XX-dependent lack of spatial skills.

--> "Harvard Boss Under Fire For Comments On Women, Science", BostonChannel.com, January 18, 2005, www.thebostonchannel.com/education/4102569/detail.html