But physical strength and size, while certainly affected by environment (quality of practice and training), are quite directly a function of genes and gender. On the other hand, intellectual abilities, while certainly affected by genes and gender (which chemicals we've each got soaking our gray matter), is much more influenced by environment. The average difference math scores between males and females certainly exists, but it is very much dwarfed by the difference in math scores between rich and poor kids.
I'm never going to be able to successfully wrestle my 6'4"" brother -- and believe me, it's not through lack of trying. But he and I can go head-to-head (pun not *really* intended) on thinking stuff and it doesn't matter in the slightest whether I've got a Y chromosome or not. And I'll cheerfully wrestle anyone, 6'4"" or not, who suggests otherwise.
I'm not sure exactly what I feel about the actual issue with the NPR guy. But while I don't think one needs to, or should, make the jump from physical differences of ability to intellectual, denying that they and their resultant level consequences exist simply because one might (accurately) fear others doing so... seems not quite right either.
no subject
I'm never going to be able to successfully wrestle my 6'4"" brother -- and believe me, it's not through lack of trying. But he and I can go head-to-head (pun not *really* intended) on thinking stuff and it doesn't matter in the slightest whether I've got a Y chromosome or not. And I'll cheerfully wrestle anyone, 6'4"" or not, who suggests otherwise.
I'm not sure exactly what I feel about the actual issue with the NPR guy. But while I don't think one needs to, or should, make the jump from physical differences of ability to intellectual, denying that they and their resultant level consequences exist simply because one might (accurately) fear others doing so... seems not quite right either.