Who is in charge of science: Men view “Time” as more fixed, “Reality” as less real, and “Order” as less ordered

There is a controversy about the factors underlying male predominance in mathematics, natural and engineering sciences. Our study of meaning attribution, conducted in Canada, China and Russia showed that men had a consistent tendency to estimate natural phenomena (even time-related) as more fixed and limited, less real (even “Reality”) and less complex (even “Complexity”) than women. Concepts related to classical mechanics received significantly more positive estimations by men than by women, but phenomena related to development and reality were assessed more positively by women than by men. We argue that the methods and language of science, which historically were developed by men, were affected by a tendency of men to reduce natural phenomena to structures with Lego-like components, and to mechanical aspects of their interaction.

► We studied sex differences in meaning attribution to common concepts in 3 cultures. ► Men estimated concepts (even time-related) as more fixed and limited than women. ► Men saw phenomena as less real (even Reality and Life) and less complex than women. ► Men favoured mechanical concepts; women – reality/development-related concepts. ► Men’s tendency for simplification of natural phenomena affected language of science.