re: fewer women in high tech or math and sciences
The % of women in all the high-paying science-oriented fields, plotted over the last 40 years, looks like a classic S-shaped curve. That is, the % is small and stable, at first. Then, at some point (and it is different in each field), the % starts to increase. In a decade or so, an inflection point is reached, a brief period of very rapid change as the curve goes vertical. Most of these %es haven't reached the higher stable area of the "S" yet, but, in many cases, the % of women looks like it's going to end up over 50%.
For instance, in the Ob/Gyn specialty, consumer demand is steadily making this a female-dominated field. It'll take another 30 years or so, but I'm guessing that women will end up being 90% of Ob/Gyns. Do you know how much math, chemistry, and biology you have to have just to apply to med school?
My anecdotal evidence is that women are just as interested. But then, I'm married to a physician, who can change out the motherboard on our PC. |