Well I’m not an engineering student, but I have friends in the department and here men vastly outnumer women. On the other hand, more women have been gradutating with MD’s than men in the past few years (in Canada) - traditionally a man’s pursuit. Moreover, I have heard from provincial statistics (my mom’s a teacher) that women (girls) are starting to outperform men (boys) in math and science. The hypothesis is that boys are becoming less interested in academic issues as a whole.
I really think that the point about more variation w/in rather than between is correct though. Any statements were are making are probably wrong.
That said: maybe women are prone to be more creative than men, think about other issues than “proving” things?
I really think that culture probably plays the biggest role though - I do not believe in arguments from nature.