CAMBRIDGE, ALIENATION AND FEMALE STUDENTS

DO NOT SAY 'GENIUS'

Cambridge University

Here is a new saying : The fear of female students is the beginning of wisdom.  Now, the news is that Cambridge academics have been ordered to stop using words or terms such as brilliant, genius or flair in feedback for fear of alienating female students.

Other moves which which are thought will help women include removing portraits of men from the library.  Additional steps to help women are take-home exams and a portfolio of essays.  All these are being done in order to help more women get top results.


Hear Dr. Lucy Delap, lecturer in modern British history : ''Vague talk of genius, brilliance and flair carries assumptions of gender inequality.  Certain women don't find it very easy to project themselves into those categories.  Some female students suffered imposter syndrome where they feel they don't belong in a male-dominated environment.''