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On average girls earn higher grades in maths than boys in school, yet fewer women than men are employed in maths-intensive careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). According to the ’variability hypothesis’, this over-representation of males is driven by gender differences in variance; greater male variability leads to greater numbers of men who exceed the performance threshold, particularly in careers associated with innate talent or brilliance (e.g. ’rocket science’). In this talk I will present results from a meta-analysis suggesting greater variability is insufficient to explain male over-representation in STEM, as gender differences in both mean and variance of student grades are smaller in STEM than non-STEM subjects. I will then discuss research more broadly on why gender gaps in STEM persist, and what can be done to increase the participation of women in male-dominated fields. Link for registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/why-are-fewer-women-than-men-employed-in-fields-associated-with-brilliance-tickets-90271888649 |
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