x+y - Eugenia Cheng, Profile Books
x+y - Eugenia Cheng, Profile Books A brilliant mathematician's new path out of gender inequalityWhy are men in charge? In x + y, Cheng argues that her mathematical specialty -- category theory --…
Specifikacia x+y - Eugenia Cheng, Profile Books
x+y - Eugenia Cheng, Profile Books
A brilliant mathematician's new path out of gender inequalityWhy are men in charge? In x + y, Cheng argues that her mathematical specialty -- category theory -- reveals why. After years in the male-dominated field of mathematics and in the female-dominated field of art, Eugenia Cheng has heard the question many times.
Category theory also emphasizes dimensionality: much as a cube can cast a square or diamond shadow, depending on your perspective, so too do gender politics appear to change with how we examine them. Category theory deals more with context, relationships, and nuanced versions of equality than with intrinsic characteristics. Because society often rewards traits that it associates with males, such as competitiveness, we treat the problems those traits can create as male.
But putting competitive women in charge will leave many unjust relationships in place. If we want real change, we need to transform the contexts in which we all exist, and not simply who we think we are.