Just read a post by PZ Myers:

I wonder why there are relatively few women engineers?

I have looked and looked and can’t find the show from TVO that my parents and I watched about women in science.  It was a great program!  I’ll let you know if I manage to find it.

But basically – why are so few women entering science-type careers?  Is it because they are genetically just not as skilled in that area?  Is there a biological basis?  Or is it mostly social?

It sticks in my head that my dad said that no one is stopping women from entering the science programs at university.  My mother and I both shouted out – by then it’s too late!  By then they’ve internalized that they aren’t as good in science/math!  I’ve always been more talented in the area of english/writing than science – but working hard I pulled off some decent grades in the sciences.  Did I gravitate towards english because of social conditioning?  I tend to think not – but I’m sure there are plenty of girls out there who could excel in math/science if they had the confidence.  My daughter is a gifted artist.  Should I push her towards math/science because I want to break stereotypes?  I don’t think so – although I will definitely encourage her to be open to any interest in the sciences.

Ah – so much to think about!  I hope in a hundred years people look back and wonder at a time when science was so male dominated.

[Here's the follow-up post.]