In the year 2007, Sex discrimination is alive and well in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The inventor of the world wide web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has called for an end to the "stupid" male geek culture that disregards the work of capable female engineers, and puts others off entering the profession
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For the statistically inclined, Beyond Bias and Barriers
Women face barriers to hiring and promotion in research universities in many fields of science and engineering -- a situation that deprives the United States of an important source of talent as the country faces increasingly stiff global competition in higher education, science and technology, and the marketplace, says a new report from the National Academies. Eliminating gender bias in universities requires immediate, overarching reform and decisive action by university administrators, professional societies, government agencies, and Congress.
Women are capable of contributing more to the nation's science and engineering research enterprise, but bias and outmoded practices governing academic success impede their progress almost every step of the way," said Donna E. Shalala, president of the University of Miami, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and chair of the committee that wrote the report. "Fundamental changes in the culture and opportunities at America's research universities are urgently needed. The United States should enhance its talent pool by making the most of its entire population.
In an interview on the above report: Report Finds Bias Against Women in Science and Engineering
DONNA SHALALA:
But it's a combination of the climate, the inability to recognize when we are, in fact, discriminating. Much of this is inadvertent. And we found patterns of discrimination that reflect both women's attitudes, as well as men's attitudes. We need to do better, because we cannot be competitive as a nation. You can't leave out half your talent and be competitive in science around the world
A 2005 article Study finds too few women and minorities in tech. From here and here some interesting information on offshore outsourcing being a subtle discrimination tool against U.S. citizen diversity.
In The Technology Dream Deferred are some alarming statistics for Black American engineers.
What's amazing is how good old fashioned discrimination against women isn't popping up more on the blogs.
I thank Tim Berners-Lee for piping up on the obvious!