--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the past, there was active…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/stephen-hawking-389_account_in-the-past-there-was-active-discriminat_3128138.jpg" --- # In the past, there was active discrimination against women… ![“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.” quote by Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/stephen-hawking-389_account_in-the-past-there-was-active-discriminat_3128138.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/stephen-hawking-389_account_in-the-past-there-was-active-discriminat_3128138.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c41/stephen-hawking-389_account_in-the-past-there-was-active-discriminat_3128138.jpg) > “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.” [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical discrimination against women in science has decreased, but remaining gaps don't fully explain low female representation in math and physics. **In simple terms:** Women still underrepresented despite reduced overt bias. Key Takeaway Address systemic barriers beyond bias. Themes gender equality STEM representation bias education Mood reflective concerned Type analytical explanatory When to use this quote - university hiring - school curricula - grant funding - media portrayal Key Concepts social science gender studies policy culture Questions to Reflect On - What policies could close the representation gap? - How can early education reshape perceptions? A Different Perspective Residual cultural stereotypes still influence choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [Women in science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-in-science/) ## Related quotes > [I am often asked why there is discrimination against women in science. And I have given it some thought. 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