🚀 go-pugleaf

Robert Merithew wrote:

>I'd like to point out that the apparent
>popularity of such jokes among physicists and physics students
>probably contributes to the very low participation of women in physics

To which I responded:

>Are you suggesting that women would enter a field because there
>weren't sexist jokes told?

To which Wendy Cornell responded:

>So a woman is only justified
>in feeling alienated in the physics community if other women *would*
>be willing to enter other male-dominated fields if not for the sexist
>comments?

To which I say:

No. The only justification one needs for feeling alienated, is to be
alienated. 

What I think is that the jokes contribute very little to the disparity
between women and men in physics. I'd guess environmental effects would
be greatest, followed by barrier to entry, followed by harassment,
followed by genetic differences. Well you might say that sexist jokes
are a form of harassment.

Harass: to trouble, worry, or torment, as with cares, debts, repeated
questions, etc.

>I can only conclude that anyone who would tell a woman that such feelings
>of alienation are unjustified is either insensitive or just not especially
>bright.

Actually, I'm as dumb as a post. But seriously folks, all I ment to say,
was I don't think sexist joke telling is much of a contributor (read < 1%)
to the lack of women in physics.

How about a poll: what percentage of women don't enter physics becuase of
sexist jokes?

I'd guess .1%.

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Ric Peregrino   c/o Hewlett Packard Co.    I represent only myself
ric@spd.hp.com  1501 Page Mill Rd Bldg 5M  I may be wrong, maybe so
415-857-7526    Palo Alto, CA 94304        What me worry?
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