<p>Why are there so few women in math olympics (IMO and etc)? If this is also related to the low participation of women in the Olympics compared to men, I would like to know.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/magazine/why-are-there-still-so-few-women-in-science.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Why Are There Still Only Few Women in Science</a> An interesting article you can find on Nytimes about why low number of women in science</p>
<p>I also found some studies that try to explain why women's participation in math olympics is low. They have shown that many women also believe the stereotype that women are bad at math. Women who hold this belief may be reluctant to compete in math competitions, so it probably makes up for this effect.</p>
<p><a href="https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/resources/women-mathematics-stereotypes-identity-achievement" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Women and Mathematics: Stereotypes, Identity, and Achievement</a> <a href="https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/03/both-genders-think-women-are-bad-basic-math" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Both Genders Think Women Are Bad at Basic Math</a></p>
<p>I sent some studies that I read and found relevant.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-04T17:25:14.967Z
Related: [Does the scarcity of female programmers, suggest that men are more intelligent than women?](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/5559/7001)
Arnon Weinberg
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-05T04:35:44.137Z
The New York Times article is behind a paywall. I have never accessed an article from them, yet the website says I reached my limit on free access. Maybe because I am not in the US. Can you please outline briefly what the NY Times says why few women in science?
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-07-03T00:07:25.273Z
I doubt that the discrepancy is merely due to cultural bias as the studies suggest.  Given that it exists in all cultures in varying degrees, there MUST be a reason that's linked to one's gender.
QuietInMontana
<mathematical-ability><social-desirability>
Why are there so few women in math and science Olympiads?
Lambert macuse
# Why are there so few women in math and science Olympiads?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-08-04)

Why are there so few women in math olympics (IMO and etc)? If this is also related to the low participation of women in the Olympics compared to men, I would like to know.

[Why Are There Still Only Few Women in Science](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/magazine/why-are-there-still-so-few-women-in-science.html) An interesting article you can find on Nytimes about why low number of women in science

I also found some studies that try to explain why women's participation in math olympics is low. They have shown that many women also believe the stereotype that women are bad at math. Women who hold this belief may be reluctant to compete in math competitions, so it probably makes up for this effect.

[Women and Mathematics: Stereotypes, Identity, and Achievement](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/resources/women-mathematics-stereotypes-identity-achievement) [Both Genders Think Women Are Bad at Basic Math](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/03/both-genders-think-women-are-bad-basic-math)

I sent some studies that I read and found relevant.

**Tags:** mathematical-ability, social-desirability

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Related: [Does the scarcity of female programmers, suggest that men are more intelligent than women?](https://psychology.stackexchange.com/q/5559/7001)  
> **username_2**: The New York Times article is behind a paywall. I have never accessed an article from them, yet the website says I reached my limit on free access. Maybe because I am not in the US. Can you please outline briefly what the NY Times says why few women in science?  
> **username_3**: I doubt that the discrepancy is merely due to cultural bias as the studies suggest.  Given that it exists in all cultures in varying degrees, there MUST be a reason that's linked to one's gender.  

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## 0 answers

