Are Boys Smarter Than Girls?
A few weeks ago I was watching a Simpsons episode entitled “Girls Just Wanna Have Sums”, based on the premise that boys are smarter than girls, specifically in math and science.
[part one] [part three]
There have been many studies that have attempted to answer the obvious question. Whether those studies were conducted by men or women is something to consider.
In September 2006 a study revealed that of 100,000 17 to 18-year-olds the male IQ was 3.63 points higher than the females. A UK study claims the difference is as high as 5 points. Dr Irwing, author of the later study, told The Times the differences “may go some way to explaining the greater numbers of men achieving distinctions of various kinds, such as chess grandmasters, Fields medallists for mathematics, Nobel prize-winners and the like”.
My opinion on the matter is a bit ambivalent with a hint of indifference.
The counter arguments don’t seem to be much helpful in drawing any realistic conclusions. Enough time has passed for arguments such as “most math teachers are male and therefore discriminate when teaching”, to fall apart. The other arguments of “IQ tests are no measure of one’s intelligence” also have their flaws. It feels like everyone is prepared to take one and support the result as legitimate as long as it says they’re smart. I also can’t help the obvious observations that the doctor guy in the last paragraph pointed out in addition to Homer Simpson pointing out that men invented the car, brass knuckles, constitutional government and the renaissance. Then again maybe women are just catching up. Such observations are not restricted to a post hoc ergo proctor hoc kind of conclusion.
I honestly don’t care about the topic to the extent of having scientific studies conducted. In this day and age, suggesting men are smarter is by default an indication of stupidity, which is why the title of this post is in the form of a question as opposed to a declarative statement; a very smart move on my part thank you very much. I think it merits some discussion (mostly for entertainment purposes) but at the end of this post the only real conclusion I can draw is that (a) I actually suck at math and science and (b) this Simpsons episode was pretty funny.
11 Responses to “Are Boys Smarter Than Girls?”
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I loved that eps , and its kinda true, for math 5ososaan,
and HELL YAAA boys are smater than Girls
I think the counter arguments you mentioned are a little stronger than the argument “Boys are smarter that’s why they are grand chess masters” (not because those grandmasters may have been social outcasts when they were boys and had no one else to talk to them but other socially ousted boys?)
“Enough time has passed for arguments such as â??most math teachers are male and therefore discriminate when teachingâ?, to fall apart.”
Well, I never took you for a post-feminist. And I strongly disagree! What makes you think that the teachers are not treating boys and girls differently anymore, when it comes to math and science? Even if we take into account that still there is very little interest from girls in enrolling in math and science subjects compared to boys? The gap in enrollment might be because they are bad at it. But you cannot rule out the possibility that there is still discrimination from their environment and upbringing that makes them disinterested in Math and Science. It would be like saying black people in the US are so [poor/criminal/lazy/ or other negative adjective of your choice] because of genetics, not cause of hundred or more years of discrimination.
Here’s a study I may or may not have referred to before:
“False stereotypes can affect performance”
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/10/19/women-math.html
and i thought this is kind of interesting.. gender segregation in school
“School undertakes math gender experiment”
http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/story/bathexp011018.html
What I find humorous is that most “politically correct” people just can’t admit that men and women are DIFFERENT. So guys generally score higher on math tests. Women are generally better at reading people’s emotions and responding accordingly. God made men and women to compliment each other. But it wouldn’t be “politically correct” to admit that and appreciate it.
lksfadljk: i agree that as arguments in your first paragraph are flimsy as such, but as observations they are fairly accurate. As for gender bias, it’s around but not the extent that would render a female incapable of adding and subtracting. and for the most part, yes i believe in much of the western world those biases are now very limited.
rebecca: i agree with that but i, like you, am not allowed to say it out loud. for all intents and purposes men and women are exactly the same.
ohhh Well if its God’s plan, who am I to argue with that. [/sarcasm]
And there is nothing politically incorrect or any sort of incorrect about saying that men and women are different, But the part that is debatable is which of these differences are nature, nurture or both and to what extent. It’s not about being politically correct, it’s just about what I think is true and what you just think is true.
lksfadljk,
Sorry, I meant no offense. I was not thinking of your comment when I wrote mine. I agree that “nurture” plays a role, I just disagree with people who refuse to see ANY natural difference between men and women, or who try to force them to be the same. (And I’m not saying that you are that kind of person.)
Nas,
You have a good point about men having less freedom to admit a gender difference. I never thought about it before. Sad.
lksfadljk: nature versus nurture…valid point!
Rebecca: I do say it out loud every now and then but it’s usually met with a fury of fists by way of my sister
now i just whisper
women give birth!!!
mil: man cured polio!!!
Of course girls are smarter than boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everybody Knows that!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think that males or females are smarter than eachother. We all have the capability to learn the things others know. Women have always come second, but that doesn’t mean that they were not just as capable at doing things that men can. I think the only difference between a man and a women is their stuff…if you know what I mean.