But women are sexual beings. I agree that the main representaion of female sexuality is uniform and privileges the young, but that is also true of male and gay sexuality in the mainstream media. I?m not saying it definitely doesn?t contribute to inequality, but I am also open to the possibility that other factors are more responsible.
The examples you cite ? can I ask what the students you asked were studying?
For women and appearance, I mentioned before that women dress up for other women as much as men ? if not more. Women do compete with one another in the looks department, men compete with each other for resources, that is why, as you say, looks aren?t as relevant for men. It has only been very recently that there has been a crossover of working roles, too recent for that psychological echo to be erased.
I don?t know the case of Susan Greenfield so couldn?t comment or judge without being privy to the evidence, but as for Wolf being ?slated? for being pretty ? did it have a negative effect on her book sales and reputation? She is one of the most prominent and best selling popular feminists so I don?t think so. Her looks, whatever people?s subjective opinion, have had no effect on her objective career trajectory. And feminism has a history of beauties, statuesque dark haired ones I vaguely remember - Susan Sontag for one, but my memory fails me just now. Being slagged off for being beautiful (or not being beautiful) is not discrimination, surely?
As for ?women are repeatedly portrayed as sexualised?, - again, well they are sexualised, just as men are, thinking beings have sexuality; it is a fundamental part of being human. Having to constantly compare yourself to pictures of beautiful women though isn?t healthy psychologically, even for beautiful women, and it is wrong I think to expect all women, women past their prime and women unattractive, to have to compete on the same stage. Women are no longer allowed to grow old gracefully and I think that the message that you have to chase youth to feel validated in yourself is a problem, but I really don?t know how much it affects people outside of the middle classes who have the option of upgrading. But by the same token women should not have to feel like they need to bury their sexuality. Women enjoy being beautiful, and even objectify themselves ? I?m not sure if the act of objectification isn?t a massive turn on for both sexes?.it?s complicated.
Women are underrepresented in some fields, but a lot of research points to the lack of work life balance after having children so women simply choose not to go on the fast track. That is a problem that feminism can help correct ? but you will always get more women being prepared to work less hours and for less money if it means they can spend time with their families. That is just a fact, and what is wrong with it anyway? Women are well represented within the sciences, especially the evolutionary sciences. Also female students who study science are well represented too and they do just as well as males.
Evolutionary science sees no intellectual disparity between the sexes, but it does see a disparity of choice, personal choice, and that needs to be studied further rather then blanketly assuming low representation in some fields is caused purely by discrimination.