New study reexamines math gender gap

Science : Two researchers have conducted a new study in which they debunk several commonly held myths about gender and math performance. Among the myths they address is the speculation put forth by Lawrence Summers when he was president of Harvard University that males may have greater variability in intellectual mathematical abilities than females. Janet Mertz of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Jonathan Kane of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater analyzed internationally standardized math test scores from 86 countries. They concluded that cultural factors are most likely causing the discrepancy in gender performance, and that increasing the number of female role models benefits everybody. “Scientific and mathematical progress relies on the best people doing their best work,” said Rebecca Goldin of George Mason University. “If you discourage half the population [from doing math and science], then that part is simply not in your pool of who’s the best, so the best science doesn’t happen.” In the US, parity has been reached at the high school and undergraduate levels, but a huge gap persists at the graduate level.