Good to read about the representation/underrepresentation of women in the construction, environmental and energy law sectors. I was surprised at the statistics, because I have worked with many female attorneys in these fields. Of course, the glass ceiling for women may be at play when leadership roles are being created or awarded.

I think that gender balance is a good thing in most professional settings. Women can learn from men and men can learn from women. A growing number of studies indicate that better decisions are made when both genders participate.!

According to the NEA, only 24.5 percent of teachers are male.

Only 9 percent of teachers are male at the K-8 level, whereas at the high school level the number stands at 35 percent.

The most commonly cited reason for fewer males is that there is still a gender bias that men are expected to be the "breadwinner" - and that teaching jobs just aren't well paid enough for the level of education expected.

Another problem in the schools is lack of progress due to merit. Unions ensure that teachers are paid for qualifications and years experience rather than classroom results. This goes against men's cultural bias of competition.

Another dirty secret is there are cases of women principles and superintendents who can't properly supervise men. They are often afraid of competent males and see them as a threat. However there are also many cases of women who can meet the supervisory needs of males in a competent way.

This all leaves the children missing out, of course. As curriculum moves away from "male" topics, girls will be less inclined to think about traditionally male careers. And boys miss out as well, as they see their innate desires being stifled by gender curriculum bias.

Of course all children need to exercise. There are studies that suggest boys suffer from "ants in their pants" more than girls, but both need physical exercise for socialization and health reasons.

I think your comments are ill-informed. It is true that there are more female teachers...at the elementary level. When you get to high school, the ration is 48% male, 52% female, hardly evidence that "Young boys are being discriminated against" by female teachers, and that the boys do not have male teacher role mofels. Moreover, this gender differential amongst teachers at the elementary levels goes back almost a century.

Moreover, your comments that boys are discriminated against unfairly because gym, shop and technology are being underfunded reveals your own gender bias. Is it only boys who are hurt when gym classes are cut? I would argue that obesity knows know gender boundry, and men are more likely to be in the construction trades and the technology sector than women are, as discussed in the post above.

Shari forgets that the real bank robbers are the loan officers sitting behind the desks. They collect interest on money created out of thin air.

As for women in construction and environmental law - go for it!

My greater concern is the lack of gender diversity in our schools. So few male teachers.

Young boys are being discriminated against. The removal of gym from curriculum, the starving of "shop" and technology courses, all show a female bias towards teaching of literature and communication.

Is it no wonder our young men are quitting before graduating from high school, especially in the poorer neighborhoods? No one understands them, least of all their female union-backed teachers.

Amen sister...My daughter is very interested in the field of environmental law, but guess who her role model is? Erin Brokovich!
We need to mentor and pull these ladies up and move them forward in the industry of Construction and Engineering. Keep encouraging others, writing and bloging, lead by example. Thanks for the article. I am e-mailing it to her right now