Presidents of Stanford, MIT, and Princeton: Speculation Over "Innate Differences" Between Men and Women Must End

Three university presidents take on Harvard's Larry Summers for speculating that innate gender differences may explain why women are underrepresented in the fields of science and engineering.

The question we must ask as a society is not "can women excel in math, science, and engineering?" -- Marie Curie exploded that myth a century ago -- but "how can we encourage more women with exceptional abilities to pursue careers in these fields?" Extensive research on the abilities and representation of males and females in science and mathematics has identified the need to address important cultural and societal factors. Speculation that "innate differences" may be a significant cause for the under-representation of women in science and engineering may rejuvenate old myths and reinforce negative stereotypes and biases.

As the doors to free inquiry slam shut and the air in the tower grows stale...what wraiths will emerge from the darkness? What unseen mischief is fomented under the ivory-hued spires? Bwaa-ha-ha.