We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.
Stephen HawkingRead
In the past, there was active discrimination against women in science. That has now gone, and although there are residual effects, these are not enough to account for the small numbers of women, particularly in mathematics and physics.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Discrimination against women in science has decreased, yet barriers still exist, especially in fields like mathematics and physics.
Stephen Hawking's quote highlights the progress made in combating discrimination against women in scientific fields, while also acknowledging the remaining challenges. Despite significant advancements, the continued underrepresentation of women, particularly in areas such as mathematics and physics, suggests that systemic issues still influence participation rates.
Themes
DiscriminationWomenScienceMathematicsPhysicsRepresentation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared at academic conferences focused on gender equality in STEM.
More from Stephen Hawking
All quotes →I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.
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It surprises me how disinterested we are today about things like physics, space, the universe and philosophy of our existence, our purpose, our final destination. Its a crazy world out there. Be curious.
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I was not a good student. I did not spend much time at college; I was too busy enjoying myself.
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The world has changed far more in the past 100 years than in any other century in history. The reason is not political or economic but technological-technologies that flowed directly from advances in basic science. Clearly, no scientist better represents those advances than Albert Einstein: TIME's Person of the Century.
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In my opinion, there is no aspect of reality beyond the reach of the human mind.
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