https://cosmicshambles.com/words/blogs/d...ale-brains
EXCERPT: A recently released study from the university of Cambridge claims to show that male and female brains are clearly very different. [...] men tend to be more analytical and ‘systemic’ while women tend to be more emotional and empathetic [...] I know this, because I was on Sky News being interviewed about it earlier today (at time of writing). Those who saw my interview will probably have noticed that I am not exactly supportive of the study or its findings.
In fairness, it’s not the first study to conclude that male and female brains are different based on questionable data. Nor is this the first time I’ve argued against such efforts. And yet, here we are, caught in another press cycle that provides needless ammunition to the battle of the sexes.
So, what’s wrong with this particular study? Quite a few things, as it happens. But there are also some major issues with the ways it’s being reported. Here’s a basic rundown, from my perspective....
It doesn’t look at brains, at all [...] All the data collected was obtained via questionnaires, usually no longer than ten agree/disagree questions long. [...]
Hefty study, minimal applications [...] Basically, even if you got as many as 100 million men and women to toss a coin, you couldn’t use this data to show one sex is better with financial issues.
Nature vs nurture, again - The researchers in the press release do confirm that the data from their study doesn’t actually reveal what the cause of the sex differences demonstrated. It could be genetic, it could be hormonal, it could be influences and pressures from the culture in which we develop.
The questionable motivations [...] this study appears to be led by [...those....] responsible for both the empathising-systemising theory of brain function, and the ‘Extreme Male Brain’ theory of autism. The press coverage of this study states that it provides clear evidence to support both these theories. What an incredible coincidence! [...]
The depressing, inevitable fallout - Thing is, even if it’s proven that this whole thing was more about making headlines than any actual scientific merit, then it’s succeeded on that front. [...] very few other people are going to dig into the minutiae. They’ll just see the ‘men have more analytical brains’ headlines and soundbites and take this is proof of their existing sexist assumptions and prejudices. I’ve already seen it being presented as proving the point of James Damore, that chinless ‘Women Can’t Code’ dipshit fired from Google. The fact that women invented coding seems to escape a lot of people, so arguing that female brains aren’t good at it is like arguing the Wright Brother’s had brains that couldn’t understand flight. [...]
MORE (details): https://cosmicshambles.com/words/blogs/d...ale-brains
RELATED: https://www.scivillage.com/thread-6397-post-24854.html
EXCERPT: A recently released study from the university of Cambridge claims to show that male and female brains are clearly very different. [...] men tend to be more analytical and ‘systemic’ while women tend to be more emotional and empathetic [...] I know this, because I was on Sky News being interviewed about it earlier today (at time of writing). Those who saw my interview will probably have noticed that I am not exactly supportive of the study or its findings.
In fairness, it’s not the first study to conclude that male and female brains are different based on questionable data. Nor is this the first time I’ve argued against such efforts. And yet, here we are, caught in another press cycle that provides needless ammunition to the battle of the sexes.
So, what’s wrong with this particular study? Quite a few things, as it happens. But there are also some major issues with the ways it’s being reported. Here’s a basic rundown, from my perspective....
It doesn’t look at brains, at all [...] All the data collected was obtained via questionnaires, usually no longer than ten agree/disagree questions long. [...]
Hefty study, minimal applications [...] Basically, even if you got as many as 100 million men and women to toss a coin, you couldn’t use this data to show one sex is better with financial issues.
Nature vs nurture, again - The researchers in the press release do confirm that the data from their study doesn’t actually reveal what the cause of the sex differences demonstrated. It could be genetic, it could be hormonal, it could be influences and pressures from the culture in which we develop.
The questionable motivations [...] this study appears to be led by [...those....] responsible for both the empathising-systemising theory of brain function, and the ‘Extreme Male Brain’ theory of autism. The press coverage of this study states that it provides clear evidence to support both these theories. What an incredible coincidence! [...]
The depressing, inevitable fallout - Thing is, even if it’s proven that this whole thing was more about making headlines than any actual scientific merit, then it’s succeeded on that front. [...] very few other people are going to dig into the minutiae. They’ll just see the ‘men have more analytical brains’ headlines and soundbites and take this is proof of their existing sexist assumptions and prejudices. I’ve already seen it being presented as proving the point of James Damore, that chinless ‘Women Can’t Code’ dipshit fired from Google. The fact that women invented coding seems to escape a lot of people, so arguing that female brains aren’t good at it is like arguing the Wright Brother’s had brains that couldn’t understand flight. [...]
MORE (details): https://cosmicshambles.com/words/blogs/d...ale-brains
RELATED: https://www.scivillage.com/thread-6397-post-24854.html