Thanks for seeing Damore’s memo in a more balanced perspective, especially coming from an American feminist. I’d like to share more with you why I’m against “only diversity”:

• My lived experience outside USA (5 min read)
• My discovery of gender biases in American culture as an expat (5 min read). Thanks for sharing the publication on attitudes and perceptions toward women in STEM profession.
• Combining multiple lived experiences and international STEM education data by social scientists (11 min read)
• Just watched an old documentary shared by a reader here. A single source on what has been done by natural scientists (38 min video)

TL;DR

1. Yes, it’s social. An integrated approach by parents and teacher (to reduce the social stigma and biases) is needed to reduce barrier to enter STEM profession for female youths. Raise boys to feel okay with minority girls in their tech classes just how you raise girls to feel okay with minority boys in their care classes. Glorify toughness and softness for both genders.
2. Yes, it’s cultural. Less advanced industrialized nations don’t have the social stigma. Parents and teachers are in unison to support any talented youths to pursue STEM profession because of financial reasons (high pay equals prestige). They have lower gender equality index but it’s in the traditional sense (public vs. domestic). The paradox lies in the countries with higher gender equality index. People are more free to choose their profession and that results in asymmetric gender proportion for certain professions.
3. Yes, it’s biological. Natural scientists in the documentary have a modest proposal: simply don’t forget the biology. Giving neutral toys won’t solve the problem. There are female toddlers who choose dolls and those who choose cars, vice versa there are male toddlers who choose cars and those who choose dolls. If the statistics show a pattern, why do we need to try to go against it? I’m a former Computer Scientist who’s never threatened by such patterns. If I’m a minority because of my gender, then be it.
4. It’s time for us to stop seeing majority-minority. This dichotomy began in the first place because of the rampant biases toward minority groups in any population (driven by a culture of constant prejudice toward the different ones? or by a social rule so strong it penalizes greatly those who break the norms?). Diversity wouldn’t solve this problem if there’s still biases. Let’s work toward inclusion and equal respect.