The Gender Gap in Philosophy

Most of philosophy book that I have had read are written by male philosophers. Only several ladies philosopher that comes in my mind of the literature that I had read a couple years ago, Karen Armstrong and Simone de Beauvoir, also some other female writers (take time to recall). It makes me wonder, why? Also, in academic field, I can see the countless male but countable female in professional philosophy. Are there any inherent problems or defects from woman's part, or are they are given only a few chance and opportunity to engage with philosophical ideas? There is a book entitled Philosophy for Girls: An invitation to the life of thought in the preliminary section (I.I Vision) is to encourage girl to think philosophically. I found this title is uncommon also raise an awareness of what happening now in the academia or life in general. 

Fundamentally, the book is written to counter the circulated label that is attached to girl as the idea of girl previously had been identical to shame and silent. Girls have been historically excluded from the Western philosophical tradition and it was not because girl are generally were inferior in their thinking compare to man but I think, it is because there is unchallenged assumption about woman and gender that has been derived from Patriarchal culture which resulted in unfair judgement and imbalance view between them, up until today. The authors call this imbalance perception and reality as "Gender-Gap". 

Apparently, the author mentioned several theories on why this gender-gap happening. The theory number one, probably the most popular is because girl are not good at philosophy, empirically speaking. I doubt this theory is true, I believe most of the married couple will know that this statement is wrong. Girl is more critical and creative and full of wonder. The other theory is because of that the way philosophy is done is gendered, that is to say the methodology of man doing philosophy is seen as distinct and superior, but also this idea cannot hold water in reality. There is no such thing as male methodology in philosophy, there is only methodologies of  "human" mind/thinking.  Therefore, the reasonable reason on why there is a gender gap in philosophy is because of gander bias and stereotype that we assume as truth, nothing more nothing less, I presume. 

The bias is clear, people thought that man identical with objectivity and rationality whereby woman is identical with subjectivity and irrationality (Aristotle famously swayed the public imagination as he says that woman is inferior to man) even worst, if the woman is already married, then it is a worst nightmare for them. Shelly Correll and Stephen Benard explain this case as bias in regard of motherhood, that is to say, they are less likely to be hired in work because of the false idea of they are less committed to work and deserve a lower salary, and perhaps, as Jennifer Saul argue, it may also carried and applied in philosophy. Thius, we can say with this kind of formula, woman + mother are totally disqualified for philosophy!

Therefore, there are three things that need to be done. First, to bring again the idea of fairness on the table. To evaluate the stereotype and bias constantly especially about the idea that man is the norm in doing philosophy. If philosophy is normally equated with IQ, because philosophy is all about mind then there is no fix result to claim that man is higher in IQ than woman. IQ is not being monopolized by any particular gender. We need to throw out this logic that is to say, men are more analytical than women and even worse conclusion, if it true, it will imply that all men are more analytical than all women.

The norm in philosophy is not the gender but the ideas, the works in fact, Sophia and Wisdom is being portrayed and gendered as lady/female not as man. 

Second, create a safe space and empower woman that loves to think and write to be open to share their ideas, and therefore what Melissa M. Shew and Kimberly K. Garchar has done in presenting their case in their book, philosophy for girl is inspiring. The other work by Katrina Hutchison, ‎Fiona Jenkins, Woman in Philosophy also push the agenda of equal opportunity of woman doing philosophy in a very elegant way. In that book, there is a word from Adrienne Rich that is worth to be heard on what does it takes to tackle this gender disequilibrium in philosophy, "It takes some strength of soul-and not just individual strength, but collective understanding-to resist this void, this non-being, into which you are thrust, and to stand up, demanding to be seen and heard."

Last but not least, for our personal and achievable goal start from today is to be intentional to surf, and read various philosophy book or philosophical work that is written by lady/woman, and get the sense out of it and then appreciate it more. To be familiar with female philosopher, Instead of reading and be pally with the Simon Blackburn's work, we can also read Susan Blackmore as well, both are equally brilliant thinker and share the same initials (SB)! In fact, when we randomly pick a book a read, we never know whether this author is male or female for sure, or we even try to guess. No, there is no particular gender in the text, there is only a thinker that expresses their inner struggle of the soul behind every text written!