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How could mathematical tests be biased? I mean, math is math is math. What would a non-biased math test even look like?

RA_Fisher 11y ago
One simple way, just as a contrived counter-example are gendered questions or questions that assume gendered cultural capital.
- Moshe_Silnorin 11y ago
  I'm not sure what that would look like. I mean whatever ornaments are in the word problem, the thing that matters is the math underneath. You seem to think female maths enthusiasts will get distracted by "gendered" ornamentation and find themselves unable to see the math underneath - which itself seems like an oddly sexist idea. Do you honestly think if we printed the tests on pink paper and made all the word problems about stereotypically feminine things, the results would change appreciatively. Isn't it possible that, on average, women are just less likely to be interested in mathematics competitions. Is this necessarily a bad thing so long as those that are are not discriminated against? Edit: And as for your comment below, I'm unsure of what the particularities of Thai dress and ceremony has to to with the posited inherent sexism of maths tests. And honestly do you really think women avoid maths competitions because they might eventually meet some foreign women in traditional dress?
  - RA_Fisher 11y ago
    Look carefully at the role of women in the headline photo, and you might see it. They're there only to be looked at, to adorn the men. This is a pretty basic and common representation of the reasons I believe women tend to be under-represented in situations like this.
- pervycreeper 11y ago
  >gendered questions or questions that assume gendered cultural capital Q. Prove Bob has a winning strategy against Alice. A. The Patriarchy! QED 7/7 Edit: Seriously, what could that even mean?
tokenrove 11y ago
You might find the results summarized in Sian Beilock's book "Choke" of interest.

One simple way, just as a contrived counter-example are gendered questions or questions that assume gendered cultural capital.

Moshe_Silnorin 11y ago
I'm not sure what that would look like. I mean whatever ornaments are in the word problem, the thing that matters is the math underneath. You seem to think female maths enthusiasts will get distracted by "gendered" ornamentation and find themselves unable to see the math underneath - which itself seems like an oddly sexist idea. Do you honestly think if we printed the tests on pink paper and made all the word problems about stereotypically feminine things, the results would change appreciatively. Isn't it possible that, on average, women are just less likely to be interested in mathematics competitions. Is this necessarily a bad thing so long as those that are are not discriminated against? Edit: And as for your comment below, I'm unsure of what the particularities of Thai dress and ceremony has to to with the posited inherent sexism of maths tests. And honestly do you really think women avoid maths competitions because they might eventually meet some foreign women in traditional dress?
- RA_Fisher 11y ago
  Look carefully at the role of women in the headline photo, and you might see it. They're there only to be looked at, to adorn the men. This is a pretty basic and common representation of the reasons I believe women tend to be under-represented in situations like this.
pervycreeper 11y ago
>gendered questions or questions that assume gendered cultural capital Q. Prove Bob has a winning strategy against Alice. A. The Patriarchy! QED 7/7 Edit: Seriously, what could that even mean?

tokenrove 11y ago

You might find the results summarized in Sian Beilock's book "Choke" of interest.