@CHCB and Enzyme
This is a very interesting one. I take CHCB's point entirely about the inherent stereotypes - maths/engineering/science is quite definitely not "a man's job," and I have to say my research group does a good job of bucking that trend.

As for Enzyme's point about stuff being hard-wired, this reminds me of an article which suggested that men are usually more inclined to try and be witty/funny in a social context as it's subconsciously a way of drawing female attention to themselves, in a "look at my tail-feathers/watch me bang my chest" sort of display. (It's quite credible if you watch the way male behaviour changes around women.)

By analogy: are men more inclined to go into (a) manual jobs or (b) science/engineering jobs because they're naturally inclined - however unconsciously - to display their strength or intelligence respectively, and therefore their suitability as a mate?

Or do we just have more of a tendency to tinker with stuff since we can't do much hunter-gathering these days?
(LongJohnBaldry, Thu 24 Apr 2008, 11:25, Reply)