more on Indian gender pattern

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Srini RamaKrishnan <cheeni () cmu edu>
Date: November 14, 2004 2:22:19 PM EST
To: Kerstin Lundell <kerstin () nostra se>
Cc: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: Indian gender pattern

Hi Kerstin,

In India it's commonly observed that girls perform better than boys in  
school examinations. This is mostly based on the data ([1] & [2])  
gathered from the SSLC (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) exams  
that every Indian student needs to pass to obtain a higher secondary  
school certificate.

The emphasis on science in the education system is quite  
understandable. In a developing nation like India there are few  
motivators as strong as a steady pay check that the natural sciences  
can usually provide better. It's a matter of pride in most Indian  
families if their son or daughter goes to Engineering or Medical  
school.

Thus far, to the best of my knowledge the gender bias has been  
attributed somewhat unconvincingly on social rather than biological  
factors.

Poor and often illiterate rural Indian families tend to educate the  
male child in greater numbers than the female. This social phenomenon  
could possibly cause girl children who get an education to regard  
themselves as fortunate, and inspire them to work harder on their  
grades. However, this which is by far the most convincing theory does  
not prove itself in urban areas and in expensive private schools where  
the parents are likely to harbor no such bias when educating their  
children.

There are other urban legends which seek to explain this phenomenon,  
but serious research into this phenomenon is lacking.

Let me play the devil's advocate here, and throw in an odd observation.  
Being a computer geek myself I find my colleagues who take a passionate  
interest in the subject are often men. Open Source software is mostly  
contributed by volunteers who could possibly be termed to be passionate  
about their craft. According to [3] over 98% of open source  
contributors are men. Whereas in the large software companies in India  
I've found the gender ratio of technical employees to be almost equal  
or near equal.

I'll be interested to hear what you make of this.

Srini

[1]
Some news headlines off Google!

SSLC: Girls fare better (MAY 15 2003)
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/05/16/stories/ 
2003051604920600.htm

Girls outsmart boys in Kerala SSLC exam (MAY 25 2002)
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/05/26/stories/ 
2002052602010600.htm

Girls maintain good performance (JUNE 18 2001)
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/06/19/stories/04192231.htm

[2]
Girls outdo boys in 7th standard exam
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/05/21/stories/ 
2002052104300600.htm


[3]
http://oss.mri.co.jp/floss-jp/floss_jp_en.html
http://oss.mri.co.jp/floss-asia/floss_asia_en.html
http://www.infonomics.nl/FLOSS/report/Final4.htm

----- Original Message ----- From: Kerstin Lundell
To: cheeni () cmu edu
Sent: Sunday, November 14, 2004 11:43 PM
Subject: Indian gender pattern


Hi!
I read what you wrote on IP, and I am quite surprised. In Sweden, boys  
are supposed to be better in natural sciences than girls. In a system  
that emphasises natural sciences, boys would get better results. But in  
India it seems to be the revers? That contradicts the European idea  
that men have genes that predispose them for natural sciences.
I would really like to know more about the gender patterns on natural  
versus social sciences that you found in India.
Best regards
Kerstin Lundell, journalist, Stockholm, Sweden, and an editor of a  
feminist e-magazine, hertha.se
Nostra
St Paulsgatan 13
118 46 Stockholm
tel +46 8 640 02 78
fax 46 8 641 16 68

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