Stephen Gould in “Women’s Brains” discusses the previous misconceptions about the intelligence of women based misinformed data. Gould uses a lot of references of leading scientific minds from the late 19th century to show the extreme example of prejudice against women’s intelligence. The major focus is on Paul Broca and his disciples. One of Broca’s followers, Gustave Le Bon, writes about how women’s brains are more similar to a gorilla’s than a man’s. He further writes that the existence of intelligent women “are as exceptional as the birth of any monstrosity, as, for example, of a gorilla with two heads; consequently, we may neglect them entirely” (711). In human history women were considered inferior to men. They are supposed to be brainless
In Carol Dweck’s article titled, “Brainology” Dweck discusses the different mindsets that students have about intelligence. Some where taught that each person had a set amount of intelligence, while others were trained that intelligence is something they could develop and increase over time. in Dweck’s article she writes, “ It is a belief that intelligence can be developed that opens students to a love of learning, a belief in the power of effort and constrictive, determined reactions to setbacks” (Dweck pg. 2). Dweck is talking about a growth mind-set in which is how students perceive the growth of knowledge and that no one person is born with a certain amount of intelligence, it too can be trained and developed over time. By introducing Dweck’s ideas of a growth mind-set to students, students will enjoy learning and be less devastated by setbacks, because they know they can develop intelligence. Dweck also writes that students with a growth mind-set, “believe that intelligence is something that can be cultivated through effort and education. They
Women’s Brains deals with the abuse of scientific data in order to “prove” negative social analyses with prejudiced groups such as women, blacks, and poor people. Evolutionary biologist Stephen Gould points out the flaws in the scientific methods of various scientists and correctly asserts that many scientists incorrectly used anthropometric data to support social analyses that degrade prejudiced groups.
Gould cites Paul Broca and Gustave Le Bon to display sciences’ discriminate nature on the intelligence of women. Through the explanation of Broca's mistakes in his interpreting of data, Gould uses logic in order to refute any claim that the size of a woman's brain validates she is unintelligent. Gould also uses Le Bon's caustic attack on women to inspire indignation, thus using appeals to emotion in a negative way to make his audience distrust the theory of lesser female intelligence when compared to men. L. Manouvrier's quote serves to demonstrate how even some of Broca's own followers did not accept his results as feasible, discrediting Broca even more. Gould refers to Maria Montessori because she took Broca's data and applied it to justify that women were more intelligent. Proving that the same numbers can support opposite cases, Gould strengthens his claim that the attempt to use science to discriminate against a certain group is futile. The individuals each make similar points in Gould's argument: science is not free from discrimination. Some of the sources are examples of injustices, while others reveal this prejudice. Each is necessary in Gould's argument and could not be removed without damaging his
The 17th and 18th centuries saw the embryonic stage of women’s quest for intellectual and social parity with men. The evolution of women’s fight for equal opportunities was bogged down by a long history of stereotyping and condescension. Women were weaker physically, bore children and nurtured them. The economics and culture of Europe at this time was strongly influenced by religion and resulted in prejudice against women. The dominating religions of Europe in the 1600’s and 1700’s (Catholicism and Protestantism), citing the bible, reinforced women’s roles as mother’s, wives, and homemakers. Women were considered the weaker sex both physically and mentally. Men and most women assumed that because women gave birth and produced milk for their infants, God intended that their place was in the home. Men’s egos, as well, did not allow for women to compete with them. Males thought their place was to rule, fight wars, provide income, teach and be the head of his family. Women were not accepted in academics, politics, church leadership, business, or the military. Despite these prejudices, women saw an opportunity in the sciences. As a discipline based on observations and deductive reasoning it did not necessarily require a comprehensive academic background. Since most women were deprived of the more advanced education that men received, it was the perfect field for them to begin their pursuit of equality. As a result, a growing number of women actively participated in scientific research in chemistry, astronomy, biology, botany, medicine, and entomology.
In Carol Dweck’s “Brainology” the article explains how our brain is always being altered by our experiences and knowledge during our lifespan. For this Dweck conducted a research in what students believe about their own brain and their thoughts in their intelligence. They were questioned, if intelligence was something fixed or if it could grow and change; and how this affected their motivation, learning, and academic achievements. The response to it came with different points of views, beliefs, or mindset in which created different behavior and learning tendencies. These two mindsets are call fixed and growth mindsets. In a fixed mindset, the individual believes that intelligence is something already obtain and that is it. They worry if they
Female scientists such as Maria Merian and Marquise Emilie du Chatelet had an impact on western science, demonstrating how women were capable of contributing to the sciences despite society’s opinions. Merian published her book Wonderful Metamorphoses and Special Nourishment of Caterpillars during a time when women were criticized for publishing books and demonstrates how society was not able to completely repress women in science (Doc 5). Marquise Emmilie du Chatelet’s letter to the Marquis Jean Francois de Saint-Lambert also demonstrates how women refused to be repressed by society. She refuted his reproach of her translating Newton’s Principia, a translation so thorough it is still used today (Doc 11). Some men in the sciences also gained a respect for women and their contributions. Not all men at the time believed women were incapable of learning at a university level like Junker did. Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician, even went as far as to state “women of elevated mind advanced knowledge more properly than do men.” As a philosopher Leibniz likely thought beyond society’s opinions, which is why he did not conform (Doc 7). Johannes Hevelius and Gottfried Krich disregarded the notion that collaborating with women was seen as embarrassing, and both collaborated with their wives (Doc 4 and Doc
As far as I could remember I was never really any good at school. I couldn’t concentrate on things for no more than 5 minutes at a time I would either get discouraged or find it too easy and just give up. An author by the name of Carol Dweck wrote an article called “Brainology” in it Dweck describes that there are two types of mindsets fixed and growth. Those who are afraid to fail so they never try anything new are ones with a fixed mindset and the growth mindset are those who are not afraid to fail and find a new challenge an opportunity to learn something new. I guess you can say that I had a bit of a fixed mindset growing up I was always too scared to look stupid that I didn’t want to fail because I didn’t want to disappoint my siblings
Les Femmes Savantes The Learned Ladies is an astounding play. As each new character enters time transforms characters are bedazzled, enchanted and wigged we know we are sharing the stage with royalty. The women’s gowns are extremely detailed with hoop shirts to make them puffy the men are wearing exceptionally detailed waistcoats. This comical drama is set in the living room or “salon” of the family. This plays plot is focused on one major couples chaotic and forbidden love. The characters are joined by blood and lead by the controlling wife, Philamonte (Maya Jackson) and her weak spouse Chrysale (Edward Brown III). Jackson’s voice is directing with a profound tone that would have the capacity to stop anybody dead in their tracks. It is not
Finally, the citizens of Maycomb County presumed that women had lower intelligence then men. This is most likely widely believed because of the fact that women had no schooling during the early days of America, while men had the advantage of education. In page (NOT DONE)
In Margaret Matlin’s textbook The Psychology of Women, the first consistent theme discussed is in regards to gender differences. Contrary to popular belief, psychological gender differences are typically small and inconsistent. Throughout the text, there are numerous situations, examples, and statistical data to support these findings. One example is the lack of gender differences in cognitive abilities. Matlin (2012) states, “Unfortunately, however, when people who are not experts discuss gender comparisons in thinking, they almost always emphasize gender differences. Meanwhile, they ignore the substantial evidence for gender similarities” (143). When people who
During the Scientific Revolution, some women performed research and experimentation of their own. These women were all upper class, because they had the access to education and science, but they also faced the most opposition from society. The doctors and medical professionals of the time said of these women that any learning, and even knowing how to read, would damage their ovaries (Barnett and Sabattini). Carl Friedrich Gauss, a French mathematician, said of women in science:
Vindication of the Rights for Women by Mary Wollstonecraft was published in 1792, during the French Revolution. Wollstonecraft preached that intellect will always govern to persuade women not to endeavor to acquire knowledge but convince them that the soft phrases, acceptability of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are most preferred. By intellect, I mean the men because they were the ones that were allowed to get an education therefore allowing them to become intellectual. Wollstonecraft cleverly does not try to prove her point through protests or accusations, but argue that women are not naturally inferior to men, but appear to be only because they lack education. She suggests that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and imagines a social order founded on reason. She believed it was unfair for women to be treated differently and passionately wanted to make a change. That it was time to let go of feelings and begin the thought process behind the rationality of the women’s predicament. Men felt that while they would get an education an...
I’m Glad I’m a Girl, one could not notice that men are far smarter than women just by viewing this book. One of the book captions state, “Boys fix things. Girls need things fixed” and “Boys invent things. Girls use what boys invent.” States we never had a women inventor such as Marie Curie, who discover Radium, Polonium, and also, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize for pioneering research on radioactivity. Also, arguing the books point “Boys invent things. Girls use what boys invent”, boys use what girls invent more. Stephanie Kwolek, the inventor of Kevlar, which is main ingredient in the production of bulletproof vests, which saved countless lives of male soldiers, as well as the “Boys are policemen” stereotype portrayed in the
Women were once little more than slaves to their male "betters." Some women might have been respected, but their places were limited to roles as wives and mothers. They might rule a home, but were not believed intelligent enough for any other role. This chauvinistic attitude is well reflected in the novels Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, and Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad.