Actually, I agree on the average. The two things that society has to watch out for are (A) not automatically devaluing the things that women statistically/traditionally do better than men, and (B) not overlooking the statistical outliers. It's a disservice to children of both sexes to tell them what their talents are supposed to be rather than observing what they actually are. (Fortunately I was several years ahead of my age group in mathematics before anybody thought to tell me I wasn't supposed to be good at them.)

Oh, and I agree that we should not be telling kids what they are good at. Let them figure it out on their own, and present the material as equally as possible.

Thanks!

Fair enough, though I'm curious -- what would you consider a traditionally male talent that is chronically devalued by our society?

I wonder if you, as a particularly large, strong male, have had to deal with more than your share of annoying male-bashing -- just as I, as a tall, deep-voiced female, have had to deal with *less* than my share of patronizing behavior? In any case, your point is well taken. Our society is unjust to both sexes, which is in no way the same thing as being just.

BTW, does your book also point out that men can also be the victims of domestic abuse, and that they have a much harder time than women finding support and assistance when it happens? (We have made a little progress on this point -- at least the comics no longer make jokes about women beating up men with rolling pins, etc.)

Yeah, flippancy is risky. I might be tempted to respond that critical thinking is regarded as a male province mainly by males who aren't very good at it. ;-) Seriously, though, I think it is much more a function of intelligence and education than of gender.

I agree that it is horribly undervalued these days, however.