Alternative Perspective on Summers and Women

by: supag32

Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 00:11

I tend to agree with Sheryl Sandberg's post on huffpo link , the controversy over Summers remarks is a bit overblown.

supag32 :: Alternative Perspective on Summers and Women

I was at Harvard during this period, and followed the issue quite closely. He was sort of speaking economist-eae, and and used improper phrasing when discussing the various factors contributing to low Female representation in the sciences. We should not treat what he said as a broad indication of his overall respect for women and their abilities. It strikes me as reflexive identity politics to oppose him on these grounds when there are many other substantive reasons to think he would be the wrong pick (including his previous support for deregulation and derivatives, his comments on pollution, etc.). But the biggest concern for me, is his interpersonal style and management style. To put it mildly, he is not a coalition builder. He runs a hardcore, tight shop, and brooks no opposition. He will steamroll any opponent and surround himself with loyalists who will always support his views. This is what he did at Harvard that so alienated the faculty, that ultimately let to his ouster. He is also notoriously awkward to interact with. The idea that someone who is not open to other ideas, and who will bully others into compliance should be at the very center of Obama's economic policy machine disturbs me. Summers would exert too great an influence within Obama's inner circle. I'm all for finding the smartest person out there to do the job - and I'm sure that's why Obama likes Summers (he was, after all, a prodigy who was one of the youngest people ever to get Tenure). But no one person has all the answers. He needs a team of smart people, from different disciplinary backgrounds, who can work together to find solutions. I don't think that Summers fits that mold.

Tags: Larry Summers, Treasury Secretary, Obama, cabinet, (All Tags)

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Alternative Perspective on Summers and Women | 2 comments

i agree with a lot of the analysis (0.00 / 0)

but did he ever say sorry in a sincere manner, even if he hadn't intended to hurt feelings or reinforce negative stereotypes? that would mean a lot and speaks to the top-down style issue you raised.

by: dr anonymous @ Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 10:39:42 AM CST

I don't think so (0.00 / 0)

Any public remarks were purely in the perfunctory category. He was in a big time defensive posture because he was completely under siege by the faculty. Others have suggested that we look at how his views have evolved in recent years, and I agree with that. But no one has really touched on this temperament issue...

by: supag32 @ Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 16:32:37 PM CST