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Google employee James Damore was fired for writing negatively about the role of women in the tech world. The firestorm that followed might make it worthwhile to take stock of women and men's changing roles in society. The memo evaluated the biological differences between the sexes. Males have a bigger brain size in proportion to their bodies. Yet, no sex difference can be found in working memory capacity, and female subjects regularly perform better on verbal abilities. Males do better on tests that measure visual-spatial skills, such as spatial perception and mental rotation. Looking for the origin of this sex difference, it is good to go back to biology. Predators can catch their prey because larger brains help them to better maneuver in space. However, the male brain's enlargement probably has more to do with reproduction and sex than catching dinner. The early history of romance probably was not a Cinderella story, but a fist-fight against other suitors, raiding, and kidnapping, which favored men with superior space orientation. Does spatial orientation is an advantage in programming and the tech world? Not likely.
Does orientation in space give men more tremendous success in the boardroom? The masculine character trait of sensation-seeking, the willingness to engage in a novel or intense activity, might be advantageous in the fierce competition for leadership. A study published in Science has shown that girls, even as young as six years old, associate being "really, really smart" with men, and such stereotypes could have a life-long impact on their career choices. Until very recently, women could rarely not set foot in the male-dominated, intimidating corporate environment. Even in orchestras, women were not welcomed until the introduction of blind auditions in the 1970s. In blind auditions, the identity of candidates is concealed from the jury by a screen. Blind auditions have increased the chances of advancement of women by 50 percent. The percent of female musicians in the five highest-ranked orchestras in the nation has risen from 6 percent in 1970 to 21 percent in 1993 and 35 percent overall. Similar 'blind' hiring probably would advance women's professional opportunities elsewhere.
In the twentieth century, social transformations brought forth laws against discrimination, fraud, and whistle-blowers protection. For example, the nearly full participation of women in society (women entering the workplace and the sexual revolution) has created a more cooperative social climate for both men and women—better cooperation ushers in a more democratic and flexible social environment. A more accepting society nurtures trust, which is conducive to social and technological progress. Emotional intelligence in personal and professional situations is increasingly valued. Such feminization of the social environment leads to openness, trust, opportunities, and broader professional participation.
However, the changing work environment also includes the mutual respect of the sexes. The recent exposure of Weinstein and others has exposed a sexist work climate. When powerful men get away with predatory, abusive behavior, equality between the genders remains illusory. Weinstein's downfall has opened the floodgates for exposing sexual misconduct. Will the wave of accusations and resignations change the work-culture for the better? Success should depend on the abilities and the will to make a difference.
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