Maggie's Farm

The evidence sweems to be that they don't have top-level ability at the same rate as boys. There are a few. There's evidence in a couple of directions why, but both are genetic and thus unpopluar. And nothing like a Point Proven.

I think rh hardin's view is co-occurring, not causative. It's not so much a decision on the part of girls, but that fewer of them have the sort of obsessional bent required. It's not just higher-level achievement, but all activities of children. Boys and girls both play video games - boys are more likely to be obsessed.

As usual, you reword to avoid what is written. Let's take apart the sentence, shall we? There are plenty of highly-intelligent nerd females. Plenty?* Well sure, when you use a vague term over a field of billions of people, I pretty sure you can call anything "plenty." But there are far fewer, perhaps from birth and definitely by about 7th grade. Highly-intelligent? Yes, generally just as many as among males. Just not in math and science, which is the topic at hand, and you so conveniently leave out.

A legacy of discrimination? Schools have strongly favored females for at least fifty years, as evidenced by their higher GPA's and more members making honors and high honors. There are certainly an abundance of parents who ecourage their daughters to excel in every subject, and because of their own social awareness, would neither stint nor allow excuse just because it's math or science - not from the daughter, not from the teacher, not from the school.

Oh, I'm sorry, it's a legacy of discrimination. So you believe that somehow the beliefs of people long ago and far away are not just influencing some shyer, easily-intimidated females, but is affecting all of them, worldwide, including the most determined and competent young women. "Lack of role models" is an empty cliche. No evidence. The proportion of highest-level math/science scores male vs female is very nearly the same in every school district, every county across the country, many of which have specific programs to encourage females to move along farther. For that to be caused by discrimination, expectations, role models, etc, would require not only that these areas all be a bit prejudiced (certainly plausible), but they all be prejudiced to precisely the same degree - that Brookline and Fishtown, San Antonio and San Franciso, all be precisely as prejudiced as each other. Which is not remotely plausible.

*You don't have to tell me plenty. Most of the girls I dated back in the 70's went on to get advanced degrees in math or science. That was my crowd, and my children's crowd after me. There are plenty. Just nowhere near as many.