Why are there less inventions by women than men?
Why are there not a lot of inventions and scientific/medical discoveries by females as compared to males?
I know historically they weren't allowed to be educated and were held back. But for a few decades now they have been receiving education and generally average about the same for post-secondary education.
Is there a current reason for this discrepancy?
Darya: I know in Engineering there is still a gender gap…I didnt know it was so pronounced though. At my university there are many females in it though more males.
But in sciences and social sciences and humanities, females outnumber the males.
Our public schools could have done better as a country to encourage past generations of women in the areas of Science and Mathematics, especially from the 50s to the 80s. Boys were primarily encouraged in these areas. Girls were not necessarily discouraged and if had an aptitude, would find resources to learn. But encouragement can make all the difference in how a child views their own self potential.
Even culturally to this day, we have blatant attitudes that women can't (or shouldn't) do the same work as men. And I wonder if that will ever change.. But I digress.
Even if you are a successful woman inventor, I am sure there is a glass ceiling in that industry that affects women and their progress, just as there seems to be in any US business, specifically noticeable in upper management executives positions, which is predominantly male.
Now there may be a difference in the ratio of women vs. men inventors in other nations, but I assume you are talking about the US specifically, not the world. The percentage of women in leadership positions in all areas of business is far higher in European countries than in the US, and therefore, female inventors as well.
And the answer about the difference in the wiring in our brains due to gender, I have to disagree that would be a valid answer. Human brains are still human brains, and yes, may differ, but are still capable of the same potential regardless of gender, race, etc. That may explain interest, but not ability.