I'm pretty sure that in most of my science classes (biochemistry/biology), outside of advanced grad-level organic synthesis, which then had a "fighter pilot jock"-vibe, the gender ratio was 50/50 if not more female than male, so this trend goes back 20+ years. But if you look at the list, the scientific terms skew physics, and for... cultural reasons, I suspect the non-specialist penetration of a lot of those terms probably skews male.

Exactly. Many respondents who know "parsec" don't know it because they're astronomers, they know it because the Millennium Falcon made the Kessel Run in less than twelve of 'em.

> the Millennium Falcon made the Kessel Run in less than twelve of 'em

That's a good point - I wonder if the question was "do you recognize this word?" or "can you correctly define this word?" (followed by a quick check)

This study uses self-reported recognition of the word. Later in the study they compare their results to other tests that try to identify understanding of the words' meaning.

I also wonder if there's any gender differential between male and female respondents in willingness to say they "know" a word that sounds vaguely familiar... and if the sound of a word also affects people's willingness to take a leap. The study doesn't seem to have included fake words or anything like that to catch guessers out (and I don't think that was relevant to what they were trying to determine, anyway).

I wouldn't be surprised to learn that male respondents are more likely to take a leap for "piezoelectricity" or "thermistor" than they would be for "peplum" and "chignon".

Or, in second place, because you played the game on TI-99/4A.

Oh wow, you are right! I came to comment on exactly my surprise on seeing "parsec" as one of the "best-known" (whatever it means in this study) words.

I'm not sure where you lived but geography and politics likely plays a factor here.

It absolutely wasn't this way when I did my schooling and I'm younger than you, growing up in Canada.

Another point to consider, aiming at a target doesn't mean hitting it. It's why you haven't seen the outcry about boys in stem until the past half decade or so. General public opinion and culturally ingrained sexism are very difficult boats to steer.

I am sure it's a regional thing as I experienced that part of his statement:

  everybody with any authority was working non-stop to teach science to girls

but I cannot say the same on that one:

  crafts to guys - even to the point of rejecting guys from science classes.

"...rejecting guys from science classes."

Do you have a source for this?

I'm almost 50 years old and I don't recognize your childhood.