The Broadsheet: August 8th

Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Amy Schumer prepares for her Broadway debut, Laura Dern is in the running for president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and Adam Grant drops science on the actual differences between men and women. Enjoy your Tuesday.

EVERYONE'S TALKING

• Dropping science. In light of the pseudo-science about the "biological" differences between women and men tossed around in the Google engineer's anti-diversity memo, it was a pleasure to read this post on that very subject from by Wharton professor Adam Grant.

In his examination of actual science on the subject—namely meta-analyses, or "studies of studies"—Grant, whose name you may recognize from his frequent collaborations with Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg, reaches four conclusions:

1. When it comes to abilities, attitudes, and actions, sex differences are few and small.

2. In the U.S., boys aren’t better at math than girls.

3. Where male advantages in math ability exist, they’re heavily influenced by cultural biases.

4. There are sex differences in interests, but they’re not biologically determined.

So, while there are in fact differences between men and women, most can be traced back to cultural influences—and all tend to be exaggerated. Or, as Grant puts it: "It’s time to stop making mountains out of molehills. If men are from Mars, it looks like women are too." LinkedIn

ALSO IN THE HEADLINES

• Out of the 'echo chamber.' Speaking of that sexist memo, Google has fired James Damore, the engineer behind it. Damore confirmed his dismissal in an email to Bloomberg, saying that he had been fired for “perpetuating gender stereotypes.” He said he’s “currently exploring all possible legal remedies." Bloomberg

• Thank you, Dame Alexander. Dame Helen Alexander, a renowned businesswoman and advocate of working women, passed away on Saturday at age 60. Alexander severed as chief executive of The Economist Group (the parent of the magazine of the same name), became the first female president of the Confederation of British Industry, and was a board member or advisor to a host of companies, including Northern Foods, Rolls-Royce, and Bain Capital. In recent years, she focused on advancing the U.K.'s female workers as deputy chair of an independent review of women's representation in senior business roles. The Economist

• Schumer + Martin. Amy Schumer will make her Broadway debut this fall in Meteor Shower, a new play by Steve Martin. New York Times

• Lara's moment. Lara Trump—wife of Eric—is the latest presidential relative to take a turn in the spotlight, appearing in a recent video on her President Trump's Facebook page. Here's a bit of background on the former Inside Edition producer: Fortune

• Fashion moves forward. This New York Magazine story looks into the growing plus-size market, concluding, "There is, to put it crudely, an insane amount of money just sitting on the table, and it seems, finally, that there are some savvy entrepreneurs out there ready to shrug off fashion’s inherent snobbery and claim a piece of it." The Cut

MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Katie Jacobs Stanton, CMO of health tech startup Color, has been named to the Board of Time Inc, Fortune's parent. Arianna Huffington's Thrive Global has promoted Callie Schweitzer from managing editor to chief content officer. The startup has also hired Crystal Sullivan as head of media sales and Alison Kreuch as head of content sales. Kayleigh McEnany, who resigned last week as a commentator on CNN, is taking a new job as spokesperson for the Republican National Committee.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Bring on President Dern. Laura Dern is in the running to succeed Cheryl Boone Isaacs as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences when Boone Isaacs ends her tenure this month. If Dern lands the job, she will be only the second actress ever to serve (Bette Davis was the first, back in 1941). Vanity Fair

• An office offense? A group of about 200,000 people in France have signed an online petition against giving Brigitte Macron, the wife of Emmanuel Macron, an official role in the country's government—something the French president has repeatedly advocated for. Washington Post

• Boeing boss. At age 30, Air India pilot Anny Divya is the world's youngest female commander of a Boeing 777. CNN

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