"Thanks to archaeology, we now know that Amazon myths, once thought to be fantasy, contain accurate details about steppe nomad women, who were the historical counterparts of mythic Amazons."
Archives
7 Sexist Ideas That Once Plagued Science
Isobel Whitcomb /
Live Science
Throughout history, science has been used again and again to reaffirm whatever prejudices were in vogue at the time — including the idea that women are weaker, crazier, less smart and generally less capable than men.
Baby Names Show Enormous Gender Gap
Stephanie Pappas /
Live Science
"It would be reasonable to expect that new names, entering a more egalitarian society, would be more balanced" in their gendered expectations, says Laura Wattenberg, who runs the naming blog BabyNameWizard. "But in fact, the numbers just don't bear that out."
Legends of a Medieval Female Pope May Tell the Truth
Charles Q. Choi /
Live Science
According to legends from the Middle Ages, a pope named John, or Johannes Anglicus, who reigned during the middle of the ninth century, was actually a woman, Pope Joan. Discovering whether Pope Joan existed may not only solve a religious and historical mystery, but also factor in to modern arguments over the role of women in the church.
Here’s What Sophia, the First Robot Citizen, Thinks About Gender and Consciousness
Chelsea Gohd /
Live Science
While completely robotic, Sophia also addressed questions about gender and robots. When asked if she believed that robots could have gender, she answered, "I think so. After all, I am a social robot, and gender is mostly a social construction." Another audience member asked the robot why and how she identifies as a woman. Sophia responded, "I'm a robot, so technically I have no gender, but [I] identify as feminine and I don't mind being perceived as a woman."