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Preparation work for live session
Preparation work for live session
In today's session we're going to be reading an article from the journal Nature. Earlier in the week, the Secret Life of 5-Year-Olds documentary looked at some of the behavioural differences in boys and girls. To what extent do these differences continue into adulthood? Over the past twenty years, the under-representation of women in academic fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) has highlighted the need to remove the perception that these are 'jobs for men'.
Live session discussion - task review
Live session discussion - task review
Discuss the notes you made in response to the comprehension questions on page 4 of the preparation materials:
What does Sommers describe as being the main purpose of the book?
Why is Sommers against the idea of female quotas in academic research?
What evidence do Chait Barnett and Sabattini use to support their argument for the existence of gender bias in academia?
What does Baron-Cohen identify as the fundamental psychological differences between men and women?
Language analysis
Language analysis
Paragraph two mentions a study that found that: under-representation of women... is caused largely by bias and by an institutional framework that hinders women's advancement. What do you think an 'institutional framework' refers to in this context?
Can you think of any other professions or fields of study which have a gender disparity? (Paragraph 8)
What is something you wish you had an intrinsic aptitude for? (Paragraph 4)
What other examples are there of previously male-dominated professions where women have now thronged into the field?
What does it mean to preach to the converted (paragraph 10)?
Live session - critical discussion
Live session - critical discussion
Drawing on what you've read, combined with your existing knowledge and ideas, to what extent do you agree with the following statements:
It is important that gender parity is achieved in all disciplines and professions.
It is more difficult for women to enter, and be successful in, the STEM fields.
Women and men tend to be interested in different subjects.
Businesses and universities need to make more of an effort to bring about gender balance.
Think back to the documentary we watched earlier this week: The Secret Life of Five-Year-Olds. Did the research discussed in the documentary more support the argument that there are innate differences between genders in terms of their interests, or the view that gender disparities are due to bias?
Do you think quotas (the idea that there must be equal representation of men and women) in research are a good idea?
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