Meanwhile .... back on topic ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skysketcher
Hello there
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Why there are fewer women in astronomy clubs is it seems a global phenomenon.
The reasons, family commitments certainly are a factor, but I think the main reason is based in the history of education. The sciences were for many decades swung toward the male students.
These days science education is more balanced and women are encouraged to study in that area and become scientists in many aspects of the word. Have you not noticed the increasing proportion of women working in the space business?
Deirdre
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Welcome to IIS Deirdre!! Nice to see another lady in the mix!! Very interesting to see that you combine art and astronomy so literally too - drawing. Love your solar sketches!!
With respect though, I think the argument that it's an historic educational or cultural bias is no longer true and hasn't been true for a long time. The fact that there is a global bias towards males in astronomy as a hobby (let's keep on topic) supports this and would make me think that there's something intrinsic in men and women that leads to the imbalance. While this might not be a PC point of view, I don't think this concept is a bad thing. Yes, we are all individuals but the genders are not made the same (thank goodness) and I believe each is driven by a slightly different set of intrinsic factors / components / drives etc. These sets of factors overlap a great deal between genders of course, but it looks like the factor that makes men more active in amateur astronomy is typically not in that overlapping bit. What is it - dunno - I failed gender characterisation 101. All us men can do is lament the lack women in the hobby!!
Cheers, Marcus