Right ... the group average differences are perhaps subtle but still are very real ... and ... they may or they may not add up to differing performance in real life ... and ... this different performance may or may not be unfortunate.

Who could argue with that?

That same reasoning goes for most individual differences as well as group differences. People who honestly value diversity aren't just being "politically correct" as we sometimes hear Rush Limbaugh claim, they really do tend to think of people as having unique real contributions to make that are not neccessarily reflected in statistical group averages. Sometimes they may even be right. Still, being aware of possible differences can help in understanding each other.

Let's review:

1. Subtle group differences in brain structure and function between the sexes are real as far as the preponderance of current data shows.

2. Translated to performance on neurological, neuropsychological, and cognitive tests sex differences are expressed by researchers in terms of small separations of group mean values. Imagine two Gaussian ("bell") curves, one for male scores for some ability, and one for female scores on that same ability. Now imagine that the curves are placed almost but not quite on top of each other, not quite overlaping completely. That's the situation mathematically.

3. Those subtle average differences often vary at least as much with testing conditions as with sex. They also vary with several demographics and for people from one test to another.

For example, women have traditionally scored lower than men on average on the math part of the SAT test, but the difference vanishes when you take away the time limit. A real group average difference, but whether it is a disadvantage for women as a group depends on whether they are forced to perform under those conditions. It certainly seems to present a statistical disadvantage for women as a group in timed math tests. It could very well mean a different way of thinking that provides an advantage in more open ended kinds of tests, however.

You can find the same dilemma with intelligence in general. People with high IQ have a distinct advantage over those with lower IQ in solving certain kinds of problems. Yet their genius can give them a disadvantage under other conditions, and other qualities can often become more important.

In conclusion ... Viva la difference.

kind regards,

Todd

Sources

Doreen Kimura. Sex and Cognition, Bradford Books.

Halpern DF. The disappearance of cognitive gender differences: what you see depends on where you look. American Psychologist Aug., 1989

Geary DC. A model for representing gender differences in the pattern of cognitive abilities. American Psychologist,Aug.,1989

Hyde JS, Fennema E, Lamon SJ. Gender differences in mathematics performance: a meta-analysis. Psych Bulletin 107(2):139-155, 1990

Gallagher S. Predictors of SAT mathematics scores of gifted male and gifted female adolescents. Psych Women Quarterly June, 1989