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Sex or sexism? Are male and female differences due to biology or culture?
February 24, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
Fox and Feather Pub
283 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Café Scientifique is a forum where, for the price of a coffee or a glass of wine, adults can get together and talk about recent -- and sometimes controversial --developments in science and technology. The Canada Science and Technology Museum and its partner the Canadian Museum of Nature serve as moderators to the discussion between invited experts and the general public. Lively discussions guaranteed!
Careers, behaviours, and character traits are often linked to a specific gender. Even in today’s society, dolls are more commonly given to girls, and trucks are given to boys. In many societies, however, the boundaries between what is considered masculine and feminine have become less distinct. Paternity leaves are on the rise, and women are becoming engineers or other occupations that were perceived as being exclusively male. But are there roles that women or men naturally excel at? Are we going against our genes in assuming that both sexes can excel at all roles equally? Or are the differences between the sexes artificially created by our society?
Invited guests
- C. Scott Findlay, PhD., Director, Institute of the Environment, University of Ottawa and Center for Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute,
- Catherine Lee, PhD., President, Canadian Psychological Association, Vice Dean: Graduate Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa,
- Scott Simon, PhD., Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa.
http://www.cafescientifique.ca
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