[DanBC]

> but most girls just don't like technology

I'm sympathetic to the idea that there are differences between girls and boys which drive behaviour. Hormones in adolescence are the clearest example to me.

But then, I used to think that "Girls just don't like chess." It turns out that this very much depends on the age of the girls. Why do numbers of male and female chess players start equal, and then drop off as people get older? It's not related to skill either.

The BBC Radio Four 'popular statistics' programme "More or Less" has a short segment. (They also ask "Are CEOs worth it?" and come to the conclusion that payment for CEOs isn't associated with performance of the company).

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01h7cf2#synopsis)

I don't know if this is downloadable outside the UK. I very much hope so.

> just as most guys have little interest in playing with dolls.

GI Joe / Action Man?

[factorial]

Do they really start out equal? I've played chess for a few years, and all I know is that it gets quite competitive rather soon. Probably you are referring to scholastic chess where teachers plunk down chess sets in front of their pupils and teach them the basics. Sure, pushing wood around is fun for a while, but there will be the point where you need a lot of tenacity to continue.

The issue about CEO compensation has absolutely nothing to do with this argument.

[DanBC]

Yes, they start out equal. This is discussing competitive chess from real chess organisations from the ages of about 8 through to late teens early twenties.