>> It may not be obvious to you, but there is a huge amount of uncertainty about the actual amount and severity of differences.
Is severity the right word here? It seems like you entered the conversation with this implication that heterogeneity was a bad thing - but I can't tell whether this was accidental.
>> Combine that with the fact that most studies conducted in these areas have a huge bias in one way or the other and are designed to mostly further the agendas of certain interest groups, or in the absence of that: to make for interesting headlines in popular magazines.
That's interesting if it's true. However, it's the sort of allegation that reminds me of this acquired derogatory meaning which the term "conspiracy theory" took on. May you expand? Is this just a feeling you have, or do you have concrete samples from the scientific world, or even somebody that shares this view who may be trusted on matters such as this?
Probably not. You can replace it with "amplitude" or "magnitude" if you like.
Speaking of poor word choices, I strongly disagree with your usage of heterogeneity ;)
> Is this just a feeling you have, or do you have concrete samples from the scientific world, or even somebody that shares this view who may be trusted on matters such as this?
There is some material that can be googled with terms like "gender bias in research" on similar terms. For a popularized take on a part of the dynamic, start here: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/421746.article
But an even better method would be to simply engage in critical observation. The next time a big study announces (and most likely confirms already expected) gender differences, look at who is doing the study. Check whether the methodology is even half-way sound, if there were enough test subjects and look at how they were recruited. Especially in psychological studies, search for ways the study might have been primed. Also, what's the track record of the researchers themselves, is this a study to follow up on previously uttered extreme claims? Look for cultural bias. Look for warning signs such as the invocation of fictitious prehistorical "facts". Look at the assumptions behind the study, and at the way the media spins the results to conform with accepted stereotypes.
In the end, no, you will probably choose to trust people and researchers who already agree with you. But it's worth a shot taking a look behind the scenes of these big "scientific explanations" that seem to be evolutionary (=pop) psychological justifications for convenient cultural norms.
I am somewhat pessimistic about finding common ground if you self-identify as a religious or conservative person, however, this is a point where we might start:
Discard science and evidence, discard models and reasoning, discard culture. Let's just talk about people. In the parent post I already talked about female programmers being saddled with additional hurdles. Obviously we can agree that this is a bad thing. The only other thing we should probably agree on is the idea that female voices are somewhat missing in our hacker culture, based on the assertion it'd be a richer and more prolific culture if we worked even a little bit on seizing the incessant discouragement of women to enter this profession. That's really it, the whole thing. I'm not even talking about this controversial notion of active encouragement, let's just stop the discouragement.
Is severity the right word here? It seems like you entered the conversation with this implication that heterogeneity was a bad thing - but I can't tell whether this was accidental.
>> Combine that with the fact that most studies conducted in these areas have a huge bias in one way or the other and are designed to mostly further the agendas of certain interest groups, or in the absence of that: to make for interesting headlines in popular magazines.
That's interesting if it's true. However, it's the sort of allegation that reminds me of this acquired derogatory meaning which the term "conspiracy theory" took on. May you expand? Is this just a feeling you have, or do you have concrete samples from the scientific world, or even somebody that shares this view who may be trusted on matters such as this?