Gender Similarities Hypothesis
Women's Caucus
Gender Similarities Hypothesis
In recent years, psychologists have developed a "gender similarities hypothesis" that stands in stark contrast to the differences model (Hyde 2005). Except for a few notable exceptions boys and girls have similar psychological traits and cognitive abilities that enable them to enter similar fields. Hyde and Linn report that "gender is a poor indicator" to assess one's performance in math and science and they caution that "cultural overemphasis on gender differences may [...] lead to decision-making that is empirically unsupported. [...] To neutralize traditional stereotypes about girls' lack of ability and interest in mathematics and science, we need to increase awareness of gender similarities." (Hyde and Linn 2006)