There are only two female engineers on my team, but they are two of our best. Gender doesn't limit or enhance ability, but it does, for whatever reason, predict interest.
well said.
I think that much of the interest thing might be in large part due to societal cultural norms and what women are encouraged to do, though. Same is true of men also in terms of traditionally female dominated jobs- there are still not nearly as many men in the nursing or caregiver professions as there are women, and I have only met one (gay) guy who works as a personal assistant. Again though, this is a kind of chicken/egg question determining whether it was a predisposition hardwired into the gender or whether it is something predominant in the gender because of what we expect as a society that ends up a self-fullfilling prophecy.
And I have to agree with this
I like the grandfathered in Offtopic threads the best.
Sex. Politics. Religion. The spice of life.
Sent From Brother Ripster's iPad
I really enjoyed that Religion mega thread... I've joined a facebook wall called "annette's debates" which looks like it might be promising for some interesting discussion, but I think that thread was one of the more thorough discussions being had on the topic and in some nice detail.
And I can't help but point out that the thread seems to have taken itself to a higher level of discussion since my post. =)