Spectral lines: Computer and math anxiety

The debate about the relative mathematical ability of males and females goes on. The experts are not of one mind as to whether there exists a biologically induced difference. The evidence of such a difference seems scarce or nonexistent. On the other hand, there is little disagreement that there are environmental factors that cause women as a group to perform less well in mathematics than do males. Simply put, if one does not study math, one does not do well in math. And there are many attitudinal and motivational factors that cause women to avoid mathematical studies. The unfortunate result is that math serves as a critical filter in screening out countless women from engineering careers. A 1980 report showed 66 percent of high school males who were college-bound had completed four years of math, in contrast to only 44 percent of the college-bound females. Male SAT scores in mathematics averaged 48 points higher than female scores.