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> argues that cognitive sex differences influence performance in software engineering. Damore never argued for this, he argued that cognitive sex differences c

> argues that cognitive sex differences influence performance in software engineering. Damore never argued for this, he argued that cognitive sex differences could possibly influence interest in software engineering work as it done today and that difference in interest could partially explain the gender gap in tech. He then suggest that we try alternate approaches when we try to increase women's representation since they might work better, which hints at him thinking that women would be valuable as engineers at Google, just that the current arguably misplaced diversity efforts might not achieve that goal.

slindz 9y ago
Exactly this. I have never wanted to use all caps so badly before in my life. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.
kybernetikos 9y ago
> Damore never argued for this Is the articles quote unfair then? It explicitly calls out an apparent jump from preferences to abilities in the original. (My emphasis) >>I’m simply stating that the distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes and that these differences may explain why we don’t see equal representation of women in tech and leadership. Many of these differences are small and there’s significant overlap between men and women, so you can’t say anything about an individual given these population level distributions. > > At what point did we jump from talking about personalities to abilities?
- Klockan 9y ago
  Difference in preferences usually results in difference in abilities due to a difference in life choices, that is how I interpreted it. So if biology has any effect on preferences then biology indirectly influences ability but it is still nothing that can't be overcome by someone who likes the subject.
  - kybernetikos 9y ago
    > Difference in preferences usually results in difference in abilities due to a difference in life choices, that is how I interpreted it. Indeed, but the relationship is not necessarily simple and requires argumentation rather than handwave.

slindz 9y ago

Exactly this. I have never wanted to use all caps so badly before in my life. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

kybernetikos 9y ago

> Damore never argued for this Is the articles quote unfair then? It explicitly calls out an apparent jump from preferences to abilities in the original. (My emphasis) >>I’m simply stating that the distribution of preferences and abilities of men and women differ in part due to biological causes and that these differences may explain why we don’t see equal representation of women in tech and leadership. Many of these differences are small and there’s significant overlap between men and women, so you can’t say anything about an individual given these population level distributions. > > At what point did we jump from talking about personalities to abilities?

Klockan 9y ago
Difference in preferences usually results in difference in abilities due to a difference in life choices, that is how I interpreted it. So if biology has any effect on preferences then biology indirectly influences ability but it is still nothing that can't be overcome by someone who likes the subject.
- kybernetikos 9y ago
  > Difference in preferences usually results in difference in abilities due to a difference in life choices, that is how I interpreted it. Indeed, but the relationship is not necessarily simple and requires argumentation rather than handwave.