Word: academia
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...very public president, Summers has rightly broadened his interests while also trying to stay true to his academic roots. The two identities are, however, not without tension. Indeed, his latest attempt to spark discussion on the important topic of women’s under-representation in academia has run into a problem: instead of embarking on research to find out why women are under-represented in academia, too many people are instinctively interpreting Summers’ presentation of scientific hypotheses as an attack on women...
Unfortunately, that has not happened in this case. Summers discussed multiple theories that might or might not explain female underrepresentation in academia. He has since been pilloried because one of the theories he mentioned offended people’s sense of political correctness. Though Summers appropriately faced some academic criticism on the merits of the innate differences theory he mentioned—one sociologist called the remarks “uninformed” and her co-author told The Crimson that the innate differences idea is “too simplistic”—many attacks have misinterpreted...
...perfectly legitimate criticism, hardly rendering the question of innate differences invalid for discussion or further research. In fact, it is a good question to study precisely because different researchers view it differently. Opposition to inquiry into unanswered questions is anathema to the core principles of academia...
Regardless of one’s opinion on President Summers’ recent remarks on women in academia, the resulting international media ruckus, presumably unintentional, has at least brought the issue to the attention of the general public. There is one major source of female under-representation that begins too early for university employment policies to affect directly: too many young girls are dissuaded from studying math and science, even by their own parents and teachers. More public awareness, beyond the confines of academic discussion, can only be helpful in tackling this much larger issue...
...Professor of Economics Claudia Goldin, whose own research has examined the progress of women in academia and professional life, said she “was pretty flummoxed” by the negative response to Summers’ speech, which—in her view—displayed “utter brilliance...