Mathematics of Sex: How Biology and Society Conspire to Limit Talented Women and Girls

Nearly half of all physicians and biologists are females, as are the majority of new psychologists, veterinarians, and dentists, suggesting that women have achieved equality with men in the workforce. But the ranks of professionals in math-intensive careers remain lopsidedly male; up to 93% of tenure-track academic positions in some of the most mathematically-oriented fields are held by men.

Three main explanations have been advanced to explain the dearth of women in math-intensive careers, and in The Mathematics of Sex, Stephen J. Ceci and Wendy M. Williams describe and dissect the evidence for each. The first explanation involves innate ability--male brains are physiologically optimized to perform advanced mathematical and spatial operations; the second is that social and cultural biases inhibit females' training and success in mathematical fields; the third alleges that women are less interested in math-intensive careers than are men, preferring people-oriented pursuits. Drawing on research in endocrinology, economics, sociology, education, genetics, and psychology to arrive at their own unique, evidence-based conclusion, the authors argue that the problem is due to certain choices that women (but not men) are compelled to make in our society; that women tend not to favor math-intensive careers for certain reasons, and that sex differences in math and spatial ability cannot adequately explain the scarcity of women in these fields. The Mathematics of Sex represents the first time such a thorough synthesis of data has been carried out to solve the puzzle of women's underrepresentation in math-intensive careers. The result is a readable, engaging account suitable not only for academics in an array of disciplines, but for general readers as well--including educators, science policymakers, parents of daughters, and anyone intellectually curious about a key controversy of our time.


Author: Stephen J. Ceci, Wendy M. Williams
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Published: 09/02/2009
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.30w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9780195389395

Review Citation(s):
Science 11/20/2009 pg. 1064
Chronicle of Higher Education 12/04/2009 pg. 17
Choice 02/01/2010

About the Author

Stephen J. Ceci, Ph.D. holds a lifetime endowed chair in developmental psychology at Cornell University, where he studies the development of intelligence, memory, and sex differences. The author of approximately 350 articles, books, and chapters, Dr. Ceci has served on the White House Task Force on Children and Families, the National Academy of Science Board of Cognitive, Sensory and Behavioral Sciences, and the National Science Foundation Advisory Board. He has received lifetime contribution awards from various professional associations.

Wendy M. Williams, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Human Development at Cornell University, where she studies the development, assessment, training, and societal implications of intelligence in its many forms. She has authored or edited thirteen books and dozens of articles, including the 2007 volume Why Aren't More Women in Science? Dr. Williams holds two Early Career awards from the American Psychological Association and three Senior Investigator Awards from the Mensa Research Foundation, and is a Fellow of various professional societies.

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