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1) I suspect that the bias against girls is "I don't think she'll be effective" rather than "I am sexist and don't want girls to succeed". 2) The bias doesn't
by adamzerner 12y ago
1) I suspect that the bias against girls is "I don't think she'll be effective" rather than "I am sexist and don't want girls to succeed".
2) The bias doesn't seem to be that strong to me. This is a simplification, but I'd guess that girls start with about a 10% handicap. Meaning that in close cases, girls lose out. But in the cases of girls who clearly have ability, I don't see the bias against them as something that will prevent them from being successful.
3) A more important question is "what can we do about it?". I agree with the idea to showcase successful women. I think it'll help a little. But obviously it isn't anything close to a solution by itself.
Option 1: If people were less biassed in the general sense, the bias against girls would be reduced. I think that making people less biased in the general sense is an important goal, but ultimately unlikely to happen for some time.
Option 2: As there are more and more instances of girls having success, people will start to view girls as more competent, and the bias will be reduced. I think the fastest way to reduce the bias against girls is to increase the amount of successful girls.
The question then becomes, "how do you do that?". This is getting long so I won't go into this too much... but I think it needs to be active rather than passive. Don't just sit there and wait for them to come to you asking for help. Go out there and inspire and persuade them.
- tptacek 12y agoThe belief that African Americans were literally inferior to European Americans animated most of 20th century racism, so this observation is probably less helpful than your otherwise clear writing makes it sound. "Girls" is probably not the word you want to be using, by the way.
- adamzerner 12y ago> The belief that African Americans were literally inferior to European Americans animated most of 20th century racism, so this observation is probably less helpful than your otherwise clear writing makes it sound. I'm afraid I may have implied something I didn't mean to imply. I'm not sure what you mean by "this observation". I didn't mean to imply that people see girls as "literally inferior". Just that people probably think they're less likely to be competent. > "Girls" is probably not the word you want to be using, by the way. I'm saying girls to be all encompassing. "Women" just includes adults. And "females" sounds weird, like dehumanizing.
- MartinCron 12y agoIf you really want to address both women and girls, may I respectfully suggest trying the phrase "women and girls"?
- adamzerner 12y agoThat seems too long winded. I understand your point that "girls" might have a connotation of disrespect. As if they're young and immature. But I think it's a slight connotation. Given the context, of me pointing out that girls are being mistreated and that I think we should treat them better, I think the connotation is negligible. In other contexts I could see "girls" being disrespectful, but I don't think it is in this one. With that said, maybe I'm being too stubborn. I often protest trivial things like this. For the record, if the case were reversed, I would absolutely be using the term "boys". Edit: Also, I think the big thing is that I don't think of people in their mid-twenties as "adults" (men/women). I'm 21 and I'd refer to a friend of mine as "a guy I know" or "a girl I know".
- samth 12y agoNote that the male version of 'girl'is not 'guy', it's boy. Do you use 'boy' regularly to refer to adult men? If not, perhaps not using 'girl' either is appropriate.
- MartinCron 12y agoYou realize that you don't get to determine what feels disrespectful and diminutive to other people? That is sort of what it means for them to be other people.
- adamzerner 12y agoIf using the term "girl" is genuinely offensive, I'll happily stop. You're right, it isn't my place to hurt people who I think are misinterpreting a word. However, I suspect that most people wouldn't be offended. If I used "women", I think the implication is "age > twenty something". I think the context makes it clear that I'm just using "girl" to be all encompassing, and thus, most people wouldn't be offended.
- adamzerner 12y agoSorry, but I think you guys are taking the downvoting a little too far. There's a difference between being unwelcoming and being critical.