Perfect Gender Parity in STEM is Unrealistic As Long As There's A Big Disparity in Math SAT Scores

Government or non-profit studies on gender disparities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields always lament the stubborn, significant and persistent underrepresentation of females, who held only 24% of STEM jobs in 2009. Amazingly, women held only 24% of STEM jobs in 2000, so it sure seems like a deeply-rooted and entrenched gender imbalance.

Every study that documents gender disparities for STEM jobs and degree holders: a) tries to explain the gender disparity, and b) looks for ways to increase female participation in STEM fields.   The fact that the female share of STEM jobs hasn't changed one iota between 2000 and 2009 suggests that these studies on female underrepresentation in STEM will be produced on a regular basis for decades to come.

And while most studies are a little bit more subtle about their long-term goal, this recent report from the Commerce Department make its goal very clear: perfect, statistical gender parity in STEM jobs and college majors.

Well, that's a goal that is clearly unrealistic and unreachable, when you consider the huge gender disparity in mathematical aptitude favoring males, as the chart above shows for the SAT math test.

Read more here at The Enterprise Blog.

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