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Is physics sexist against men?

At a recent CERN workshop on gender and high energy physics, Professor Alessandro Strumia of Pisa University told the audience "People say that physics is sexist, physics is racist. I made some simple checks and discovered that it wasn't, that it was becoming sexist against men and said so...Oxford University extends exam times for women's benefit...Italy offers free or cheaper university for female (research) students". He also said that he himself was overlooked for a job that he was more qualified for, which was given to a woman.


He produced a series of graphs which, he claimed, showed that women were hired over men whose research was cited more by other scientists in their publications, which he says is an indication of higher quality. He also presented data that he claimed showed that male and female researchers were equally cited at the start of their careers but men scored progressively better as their careers progressed.


He told his audience of young, predominantly female physicists that "physics was invented and built by men, it's not by invitation". He said his results "proved" that "physics is not sexist against women. However the truth does not matter, because it is part of a political battle coming from outside".


What are your thoughts on his views and do they reflect your experiences working in STEM fields? And was he the right choice of speaker for an event such as this?


Read more in: "Cern scientist: 'Physics built by men - not by invitation'" available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45703700
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    The Professor is a misogynist
  • Thanks for the post Amber, I hadn't seen the article by BBC, but Physics World (I subscribe to the website) had a response article by CERN... 


    Perhaps people (men and women) working in the field of Physics are best qualified to reply to Strumia.


    CERN seems unhappy about the gist of Strumia's talk:

    CERN describes physicist’s gender talk as ‘highly offensive’


    https://physicsworld.com/a/cern-describes-physicists-gender-talk-as-highly-offensive/

    An update stated: '


    To avoid compromising any investigation and perhaps possible legal processes, I will refrain from any further comment.


    And in other news, since the Nobel Prize for Physics 2018 was announced today...

    'The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the #NobelPrize in Physics 2018 “for groundbreaking inventions in the field of laser physics” with one half to Arthur Ashkin and the other half jointly to Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland'
    https://twitter.com/NobelPrize/status/1047061973966512130


    Physics World: 'Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland win the 2018 physics #NobelPrize for groundbreaking inventions in the field of laser physics...'
    https://twitter.com/PhysicsWorld/status/1047070122358321152


    “We need to celebrate women physicists because they’re out there… I’m honoured to be one of those women," says Donna Strickland. She becomes the third woman to receive the #NobelPrize in Physics, joining Maria Goeppert-Mayer (1963) and Marie Curie (1903). Congratulations!
    https://twitter.com/NobelPrize


    Abi

  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Strumia is a misogynist and that needs calling out by all women, you can't stay silent because you think it doesn't directly affect you and your field. 


    All women are affected by attitudes like this if they are allowed to go unchallenged. 


    I'm glad CERN have taken the course of action that they have.
  • Oh, I'm not disputing the unacceptability of Strumia's talk and viewpoint. Nor are my suggesting that anyone and everyone should not vent their thoughts, fury, whatever on Strumia's talk and viewpoint...because Physics is not their field of work, or expertise.


    Strumia deliberately chose to share his view with a female audience on a public platform. CERN has taken actions against what they also deemed unacceptable. I fully expect Strumia to challenge CERN's action in court. Let's see the outcome.


    I have no idea how development(s) on a case/situation like this can be tracked, I hope Amber will keep her original post updated for us all. 



  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    Gemma Dwarampudi:

    Strumia is a misogynist and that needs calling out by all women




    Men too!


    There was an item on Radio 4 yesterday morning and his soundbites made me cringe. They then had on a woman who destroyed his "evidence" and "logic" and it was glorious.

  • Totally agree, men too (of course).


    Hurrah for logic...
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    David Houssein:



    Men too!


    There was an item on Radio 4 yesterday morning and his soundbites made me cringe. They then had on a woman who destroyed his "evidence" and "logic" and it was glorious.



    any idea where I can listen to that online?


    many thanks,

    Antonia

  • Is this the one David Houssein‍ ?: https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/p06mms78  ( Antonia Tzemanaki‍, if you want to listen, hurry! It's only available for another 4 days!


    PS. If anyone wants to see the slides from his talk, they can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c_NyUhOZ8erdqU2AGZJZtNfFeA91Kefj/view
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Yep, that's the one!
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    Amber Thomas:

    Is this the one David Houssein‍ ?: https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/play/p06mms78  ( Antonia Tzemanaki‍, if you want to listen, hurry! It's only available for another 4 days!


    PS. If anyone wants to see the slides from his talk, they can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c_NyUhOZ8erdqU2AGZJZtNfFeA91Kefj/view




    that is great, thank you!