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What's the big idea with Prospect's World Thinkers poll? What's the big idea with Prospect's World Thinkers poll?
(5 months later)
Today's top 10 leading thinkers are all men, according to a global poll published by Prospect magazine today. Advertised as "a snapshot of the intellectual trends that dominate our age", the most glaring trend seems to be the absence of women.Today's top 10 leading thinkers are all men, according to a global poll published by Prospect magazine today. Advertised as "a snapshot of the intellectual trends that dominate our age", the most glaring trend seems to be the absence of women.
Any list, even one garnering 10,000 votes from over 100 countries before being decided on by a panel of 10, is bound to be subjective and somewhat partial. But this latest highlights the fact that when it comes to judging people for their ideas, voters act as though they still can't get past the image of a thinker provided by an old French sculptor – a man with his head in his hand.Any list, even one garnering 10,000 votes from over 100 countries before being decided on by a panel of 10, is bound to be subjective and somewhat partial. But this latest highlights the fact that when it comes to judging people for their ideas, voters act as though they still can't get past the image of a thinker provided by an old French sculptor – a man with his head in his hand.
There are 15 women in the list of 65 thinkers, or some 23% of the total. Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins tops the poll, in which scientists and economists, particularly those au courant with social media, are in the ascendance.There are 15 women in the list of 65 thinkers, or some 23% of the total. Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins tops the poll, in which scientists and economists, particularly those au courant with social media, are in the ascendance.
In contrast there's a far higher proportion of writers among the female contenders. The leading female thinker, for example, is Arundhati Roy at number 15, a novelist turned campaigner. The women judged most successful over the past 12 months tend to be writers such as journalist Anne Applebaum, and the novelists Hilary Mantel and Zadie Smith.In contrast there's a far higher proportion of writers among the female contenders. The leading female thinker, for example, is Arundhati Roy at number 15, a novelist turned campaigner. The women judged most successful over the past 12 months tend to be writers such as journalist Anne Applebaum, and the novelists Hilary Mantel and Zadie Smith.
Two women successful because of their business or political success – Facebook boss Sheryl Sandberg and Anne-Marie Slaughter – have become internationally recognised for two works – Lean In and Why Women Still Can't Have it All – which deal in their different ways with how women can and cannot balance work with children.Two women successful because of their business or political success – Facebook boss Sheryl Sandberg and Anne-Marie Slaughter – have become internationally recognised for two works – Lean In and Why Women Still Can't Have it All – which deal in their different ways with how women can and cannot balance work with children.
I scrolled down to find male writers on the list who had either written about the work-life balance or been criticised for having "an army of domestic drudges to do their work" and, amazingly, I failed to find any.I scrolled down to find male writers on the list who had either written about the work-life balance or been criticised for having "an army of domestic drudges to do their work" and, amazingly, I failed to find any.
At this point I felt I had a bit of a eureka moment of my own. When it comes to Big Idea books, whether Thinking Fast and Slow or The Wisdom of Crowds, it's men that have them. When women write about ideas they either focus on living their lives or are criticised for doing so. Either way, they are not expected to think big.At this point I felt I had a bit of a eureka moment of my own. When it comes to Big Idea books, whether Thinking Fast and Slow or The Wisdom of Crowds, it's men that have them. When women write about ideas they either focus on living their lives or are criticised for doing so. Either way, they are not expected to think big.
Sadly, this is not an unusual thought. My colleague Alison Flood wrote about this back in 2008 when she asked why such books were dominated by men. She also made the point that with academia, science and economics dominated by men, the numbers game is not in women's favour. It's a tiny aside, but the 15 women lauded by Prospect at least prevented the list adding to this brilliant meme on men-only clubs.Sadly, this is not an unusual thought. My colleague Alison Flood wrote about this back in 2008 when she asked why such books were dominated by men. She also made the point that with academia, science and economics dominated by men, the numbers game is not in women's favour. It's a tiny aside, but the 15 women lauded by Prospect at least prevented the list adding to this brilliant meme on men-only clubs.
Jessica Abrahams of Prospect has written a piece pointing out that the proportion of women on the list has has doubled since the last poll in 2008 with a few more economists and business leaders than previously.Jessica Abrahams of Prospect has written a piece pointing out that the proportion of women on the list has has doubled since the last poll in 2008 with a few more economists and business leaders than previously.
Yet there are still obvious absences from the list. Gloria Steinem, Mary Beard, Mona Siddiqui, Shirin Ebadi spring to mind. Others suggested Lionel Shriver or Katha Pollitt. So come on Guardian readers, which women make you think? And why aren't more of them applauded for doing so.Yet there are still obvious absences from the list. Gloria Steinem, Mary Beard, Mona Siddiqui, Shirin Ebadi spring to mind. Others suggested Lionel Shriver or Katha Pollitt. So come on Guardian readers, which women make you think? And why aren't more of them applauded for doing so.
Read more about the poll here. Read more about the poll here.
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