Blog Ten
Dear Mr. Summers,
I am writing to you on behalf of your speech at the NBER Conference on Diversifying the Science and Engineering Workforce. While I agree that the biological order of men and women have an impact on how we as individuals think and perceive different material, I disagree with your standpoint that men are "smarter" in the mathematical and scientific fields.
As stated in Ellen M. Bublick's "Summers' Personal As Political: Reasoning Without Effort From Stereotypes," "the problems stem from Summers' unfounded assumption that women inevitably lack aptitude in science, from his failure to see that job structure and interest are a function of a social variables, and from the reinforing effect that Summers' women-can't-do discourse will have toward deepening the already strong rivers of bias against women in science, " you believe that women do not "bring as much to the table" as men do when it comes to science, but yet you need to realize that 'job structure and interest are a function of social variables' dealing with the interaction of men and women (529). To continue with your opinion of women lacking in science and math, do you believe that women choose to not take these courses because men 'overrule' these areas? Bublick also questioned, "if women in their twenties drop out of math and science courses, does it prove that they could not have made it had they further pursued these courses?" (531). Did you ever consider that math and sciences courses may not be needed for women depending on what occupation they choose to pursue? Why should they need to take these courses if they are not needed? Bublick also explains that in school math was her favorite subject, she received AP credit for her achievements in it, and in a semester of college, she filled her only elective with a math course because she enjoyed it so much (531). In my opinion, not as women have the desire to go into course that involve mathematics, engineering and sciences. Men have more of a desire for mechanics and occupations related to it, so they are required to take more math and science courses. This does not mean that women do not enjoy these courses, but they may not apply to their occupation. For the women that want to pursue a job involving sciences and mathematics, they may be part of the few females in their classes, but this does not mean that they do not deserve to be there.
All in all, it comes down to choice. Depending on what the individual wants to pursue as their occupation, this will determine what courses they need to take. Just because men tend to have more of an interest with occupations in sciences and mathematics, does not mean that women are not able to accomplish these courses. As society has proven, for example, many women are pursuing careers in the medical field, so where does that leave women with the sciences and mathematics? It sure seems to me that they are putting in their effort and proving that they can be just as good as men can in the work force.
Thank you for your time.