The Mathematical Abilities of Women Essay -- Math Mathmatics Women

The Mathematical Abilities of Women Tests have proved that women have the same mathematical abilities than men do. Since there is no difference in ability, you would think that the field is equally occupied by both genders. Many people have thought about a seemingly simply asked question and have failed to come up with a practical answer why it is so. The question, "How come you know more male mathematicians than female?" is one that I, previously uninformed on this subject plan to supply data that may help to lead to one clearly defined answer. One reason why women are out numbered is that the females were shunned from society throughout history. The men did not allow women to do certain things. For example, girls growing up weren’t allowed to obtain the same education as the boys because the girls were supposed to grow up to take care of the house. In most cases, the women were just taught the essentials for around the house work, cooking, sewing, and taking care of the children to name a few. Furthermore, some universities weren’t coed until the mid to late 19th century. The university of Virginia, which was established back in 1819, did not allow girls to attend college there until 1970. This example helps illustrate the point I am trying to make. Men have had all of the opportunities to do well in their chosen fields. They have been receiving all of the proper schooling that helps them move on to be the best they can be. If a woman had the potential to be the best mathematician ever, she would not have bee n able to accomplish that. Some studies have shown very conclusive evidence to why women are not in the field of mathematics. One researcher blamed the teachers during K-12. People have said that the girls weren’... ... conclusion, there is no exact answer that remains from all of the studies. The fact that women are outnumbered in the field just may be because that is how it always was. Although it is changing, it is a slow process that hopefully will taper off. We do not know exactly why, but suppose the evidence is yet to be unmeasured? It could be out there but yet to be analyzed. Or could it be that this whole topic has been blown out of proportion? A big question still remains whether the practical discrepancies in the fields are important and whether it is a problem that needs to be fixed. Bibliography [1] Dalmedico, Amy D. Scientific American, "Sophie Germaine" Dec 1991, v265 n6 p116 (6) [2] Holden, Constance Science, "Female Anxiety on the Wane", May 8, 1987 v236 p660 (2) [3] Agnes Scott University, http://www.agnesscott.edu/ (Pictures and biographical data.)