AAS Committee on the Status of Women 
Issue of April 4, 2008 
eds. Joan Schmelz, Hannah Jang-Condell & Caroline Simpson 
 
This week's issues: 
 
1. Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man? 
 
2. Women Astronomers in the Media 
 
3. L'Oreal Women in Science Booklet 
 
4. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN 
 
5. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
1. Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man? 
From: Caty Pilachowski [catypastro.indiana.edu] 
 
In the March issue of AASWomen, Jill Knapp alerted us to Christina Hoff 
Summer's article "Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?" on the American 
Enterprise website and published in the magazine _The American_. (See 
http://www.american.com/archive/2008/march-april-magazine-contents/) 
 
Apparently Ms. Summers wants to be sure her point of view is widely 
considered.  She has sent a copy of her article to the president of my 
university - and very possibly to the president of yours, as well.  She 
argues not only against the application of Title IX, but undermines many 
of the goals of gender equity and the NSF ADVANCE program.  Women in 
STEM disciplines at your institution who are concerned about the impact 
of her article may want to open a dialogue with your president's office 
about the continued benefit to nation in increasing the participation of 
women in the sciences. 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
2. Women Astronomers in the Media 
From: Hannah Jang-Condell [hannahastro.umd.edu] 
 
Here are some recent items that have prominently featured women astronomers: 
 
Heidi Hammel (STScI) discussing JWST on a radio talk show: 
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/03/05/midmorning2/ 
(Thanks to John Mather for pointing this one out) 
 
Sara Seager (MIT) fielding questions on a Washington Post online chat: 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/03/21/ 
DI2008032102599.html?hpid=3Dtopnews 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
3. L'Oreal Women in Science Booklet 
From: WIPHYS March 31, 2008 
 
"This booklet, created by Science in partnership with the L'Oreal 
Corporate Foundation, brings to the reader a collection of truly 
inspirational stories from women in all walks of life whose common 
passion is science. Not all are famous, but they are all successful in 
their own right, whether it be receiving awards, juggling both a job 
and a family, or fighting discrimination or cultural restrictions. It 
is our hope that the words of wisdom contained in this booklet will 
motivate and inspire young women to pursue a career in science or 
engineering. In addition, educators are encouraged to make use of this 
publication as a teaching aid in their classrooms-for children of all 
ages and genders-to stimulate discussion on the role of women in the 
sciences."  You can download individual chapters or the full 40 pages 
as a pdf at 
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/ 
tools_resources/l_oreal_women_in_science_booklet 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------= 
4. How to Submit, Subscribe, or Unsubscribe to AASWOMEN 
 
[Please remember to replace "" in the below e-mail addresses.] 
 
To submit to AASWOMEN: 
 send email to aaswomenaas.org 
All material sent to that address will be posted unless you tell us 
 otherwise (including your email address). 
 
To subscribe or unsubscribe to AASWOMEN 
 go to http://lists.aas.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/aaswlist 
and fill out the form. 
 
If you experience any problems, please email itdeptaas.org 
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------= 
- 
5. Access to Past Issues of AASWOMEN 
 
Past issues of AASWOMEN are available at 
 
http://www.aas.org/cswa/AASWOMEN.html 
 
Each annual summary includes an index of topics covered.