On Academic Discrimination
Ainsworth, Janet
Abstract
The article critiques the argument that women's underrepresentation in the physical sciences is due to innate intellectual inferiority or a lack of willingness to work long hours. It challenges the assumptions underlying such claims, arguing that discrimination and socialization play significant roles, and that the notion of requiring "super-intelligence" for academic success is overstated and unproven. The author advocates for addressing systemic biases and unstated assumptions in academia rather than focusing on debates about innate differences.