"Here are the words that men were most likely to recognize over women: codec (88, 48) solenoid (87,..."

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Here are the words that men were most likely to recognize over women:

• codec (88, 48)


• solenoid (87, 54)


• golem (89, 56)


• mach (93, 63)


• humvee (88, 58)


• claymore (87, 58)


• scimitar (86, 58)


• kevlar (93, 65)


• paladin (93, 66)


• bolshevism (85, 60)


• biped (86, 61)


• dreadnought (90, 66)

And here are the words that women were most likely to know over men:

• taffeta (48, 87)


• tresses (61, 93)


• bottlebrush (58, 89)


• flouncy (55, 86)


• mascarpone (60, 90)


• decoupage (56, 86)


• progesterone (63, 92)


• wisteria (61, 89)


• taupe (66, 93)


• flouncing (67, 94)


• peony (70, 96)


• bodice (71, 96)

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- Linguistics researchers explore the gender gap in our vocabulary. For a pause-giving counterpart, see Leonard Shlain on how the invention of the alphabet usurped female power in society. (via 123katemarie)

Shlain’s book is awesome and provoking. Read and reread: he maps the “relationship between literacy and patriarchy. Without denying the vastness of the benefits literacy bestowed upon humanity, Shlain uses Marshall McLuhan’s famous dictum — “the medium is the message” — to examine how the advent of the written word and our ability to read reconfigured the human brain, effecting profound changes in the cultural dynamics of gender roles.” Then read again.

(via sorayachemaly)

I know all of these things. Where do I land?

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