Education

Prof: Statistics Are ‘NOT Analytical’ And Wage Gap Is ‘Very Real’

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Rob Shimshock Education Reporter
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A professor at a Canadian university recently told a student who wanted to argue against the existence of the gender wage gap that “the wage gap is very real” and statistics are “NOT analytical.”

In an email obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation, Ryerson University student Jane Mathias asked sociology professor Kelly Train if she could write an essay rejecting the existence of the gender wage gap, but had her thesis rejected.

“First off, your premise is wrong,” responded Professor Train. “The wage gap is very real.”

The professor went on to state that Mathias will not find any sources denying the wage gap’s existence before stating that the wage gap operates through the “glass ceiling.”

“Perhaps you want to write your paper on the glass ceiling,” said Train. “You need to look at feminist sources on this issue.  I would suggest beginning with Caroline Gatrell’s book, Embodying Women’s Work.  Chapter 7 looks specifically at the glass ceiling.”

“Do NOT use business sources.  They blame women.  The reality is patriarchy.”

(Photo Credit: Jane Mathias)

Mathias’s sister, Josephine Mathias, who operates a YouTube channel called “MyNameIsJosephine,” also published the text of the essay of the assignment. The professor bans the use of dictionary and encyclopedia references, newspaper articles, magazine articles, and non-scholarly websites in writing the essay.

“Students should also note that government websites and statistical data are NOT scholarly sources,” reads the assignment, insisting that these sources are “NOT analytical.”

“Statistics denote a social trend but can be interpreted in numerous and contradictory ways,” explains the essay instructions. “Statistics themselves are devoid of analysis.”

The assignment states that government data also does not contain analysis and “usually reproduces mainstream stereotypes, assumptions and misconceptions” before cautioning that if students want to use government data, they also need to use “critical sociological analysis.”

(Photo Credit: Josephine Mathias)

The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to Train for comment, but did not hear back in time for publication.

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