bashoGWSS1

Mr Summers,
I am writing in response to your speech, which addressed the issue of the lack of women in science. After reading the speech and your apology, I do believe you realize what you said was wrong and disrespectful towards women. There are several ideas that you brought up in your speech that I would like to discuss in more detail with you.
Although you were speaking “unofficially� when you said the following, I believe your words should be taken seriously. First, when you discuss the idea that women do not want jobs that require 80 work weeks because women are more concerned with being mothers than working full time. The fact that you said this is absolutely appalling to me. Not only do I disagree with this statement, but Ellen Bublick also disagrees. Her argument uses the Supreme Court as evidence that the stereotypical gender roles are “endemic to the discrimination against women.� She also states that “the problem with viewing women as mothers first and workers second is that it sterotypes them right out of significant jobs� such as the ones you speak of in science and engineering.
You also cited intrinsic aptitude as a reason for the lack of women in science and engineering. Bublick also counters your speech by noting that research has shown that women are not merely “little men.� Women have the ability to learn just as well as men. Although our bodies and mindsets are different, the ability to learn is the same for both sexes in my eyes. If the ability is there, success will follow. However, the success for women may be in another field outside of engineering and science. Women choose to work in other fields- they do not choose to because aren’t smart enough to be an engineer.
“Unofficially speaking� as a female engineering student, I do have the aptitude to become an engineer. I do have the ability to succeed in a male dominated field. I am personally insulted by your speech, and I believe you got what you deserved.