Women Speak Drastically Less When They’re Surrounded by Dudes. And That’s Bad.

[JoeyT]

7. Sort of a little off topic,

but have you ever noticed the guys that drag out the "Men get injured in industrial accidents! Warghlbargl!!!" gripe are never actually in a field that has industrial accidents? The worst they've ever had to contend with was usually a risk of carpal tunnel.

More on topic: Even guys knew this was true long before this study came out. The only way I can think of to break the cycle is to say "What do you think about <subject>, <woman's name>?" (Assuming the woman is the kind of person that's comfortable talking to a group of people. Hate dragging introverts/shy people into conversations they want no part of.)

Forcing the men to acknowledge that there not only is a woman present, but that she might have something to say that rivals or exceeds their own contribution means they'll either get used to hearing women speak to them as equals or they'll whine. In the former they'll start asking women to participate or acknowledging women that are. In the latter they'll whine and can be slapped down.

"it's some sort of sinister societal force that shepherds us into those roles." I think there's a word for that. Starts with a P and ends with a Y.