To the editor:
There was an opinion article published on March 10 about Harvard President Lawrence Summers' comment on why women are outnumbered by men in high-ranking science positions. The writer, Jesse McLain, supported her hypothesis that women simply don't want these jobs (they think differently and want different things than men).
What is bothersome about this is how can anyone suppose that the male and female brains work differently unless we are treated the exact same way and then compared?
This NEVER happens in today's world. It is impossible to determine what amount of difference is due to socialization and what is due to biological differences. McLain states that this opinion "seems far less based in scientific study and more based in equality fanatics who want all differences ignored."
As a self-proclaimed equality fanatic, I can say I have looked at the research and it overwhelmingly supports similarity, rather than differences, among the brain anatomy and function of men and women. The differences that are found are minimal and can be lessened or dissolved completely by simply altering the environment and situation. That said, it seems to me Summers was, in fact, very much out of line. I would expect someone as influentially positioned as him to do his research and not make ignorant comments that encourage the differential and unequal treatment of men and women. It sounds like McLain could do some research herself.
Laura Lovato
Junior
Psychology Major
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