Fighting the Neurotrash: is there such a thing as the 'male' and 'female' brain? | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Women are underrepresented in science due to cultural attitudes and gender stereotypes, and neurotrash is being used to uphold these stereotypes.

Key Insights

• 🧔‍♀️ Women are underrepresented in STEM fields due to cultural attitudes and gender stereotypes.
• 🔬 Science is often misused to uphold these stereotypes and justify the limited roles for women in science.
• 🔬 Progress in achieving gender equality in science careers has been hindered by these stereotypes and attitudes.
• ⚧️ Neurotrash perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes and distorts scientific findings.
• 🔬 Gender equality in science requires challenging cultural attitudes and dismantling gender stereotypes.
• 🌍 Science Girl aims to address these issues and create a more equal world.
• 🫵 The importance of neuroplasticity and the permeability of the brain highlight the need for a holistic view of gender differences.

Transcript

great so hi everyone um my name's anna zakaria i'm one of the directors of science girl you've got to do that girl um if you want to if you want to tweet us we're at science underscore girl and if you want to tweet about the session where hashtag wow brains in all senses of the words so why are we here today science girl is a network of mostly wome... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why are women underrepresented in fields of science, tech, engineering, and maths?

Women face cultural attitudes and gender stereotypes that discourage their participation in these fields. The number of girls taking physics A-levels has remained low for the past 20 years.

Q: How is science being used to uphold gender stereotypes?

Science is being misused to highlight supposed differences between male and female brains. These differences are often overstated and used to justify societal expectations and limitations placed on women.

Q: Is progress being made in addressing the underrepresentation of women in science careers?

Progress has been slow due to the persistence of cultural attitudes and gender stereotypes. Science Girl is releasing a report highlighting the barriers and calling for a more equal world.

Q: What is neurotrash and why is it concerning?

Neurotrash refers to the misuse of neuroscience to perpetuate gender stereotypes. It is concerning because it distorts scientific findings and reinforces harmful societal expectations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Science Girl is a network of women working in science, engineering, and related fields to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM.

• Girls continue to be discouraged from pursuing science careers, and cultural attitudes and gender stereotypes are the main barriers to progress.

• Science is being misused to reinforce these stereotypes, and Science Girl aims to challenge and dismantle them.