The XX Factor

We’re Talking About: March 16, 2010

-House speaker Nancy Pelosi may push for a “deem and pass ” measure rather than a vote on the Senate health reform bill. Citing a 1998 Supreme Court ruling, some Republicans say the tactic would be unconstitutional. [ Washington Post ]

-Expanding on Katrin Bennold’s New York Times article on women in the sciences , Latoya Peterson blames video games , in addition to social conditioning and historical misconceptions about female intelligence, for the decreased number of female scientists. [ Guardian , New York Times ]

-Last night Jon Stewart mocked elephants and asses alike for their sex scandal hypocrisy : Boehner, who defended Hastert for not outing Foley, lambasts Pelosi for protecting Massa. Ha! And that’s just the House … [ Gawker ]

-Studies show that prospective employers and even physicians are biased against the overweight. Is Michelle Obama’s campaign against childhood obesity just teaching kids early that fat people are unacceptable ? [ New York Times ]

-A new study suggests that women are better than men at almost every three-minute task , including winning an argument and rewiring a plug. The Daily Mail ‘s conclusion? See , women really should do all the ironing! [ Daily Mail ]