Explain how IQ test is said to be sexist and racist?

Answer 1

i would say it is more elitist myself

Answer 2

I don't know about sexist but I do know about racist. Consider if you will, a black man born and raised in the bush with farming, hunting and fishing as his main skills, but with an IQ of 175 (I say 175 to show high, not to accept that the methods used generally to determine are accurate).

So you have the idea now that although the man is generally more intelligent than say a western counterpart, a western IQ test would be of no value in determining his IQ. For instance, skill and intelligence required to spear a fish in mid dive 1mtr under water and be sure of a kill requires vast computing power, which frankly we don't have.

Answer 3

IQ tests (WISC, WAIS, Woodcock-Johnson, Stanford-Binet, all of them) are based on norms. And the databases are huge. They go all over the world and administer the test to random samples that cut across gender, ethnicity, religion, class/SES, and education, and are normed at each age and standardized (so a raw score, number you got right, on a specific subtest, say the average is 12 right, you keep getting the average and your IQ will eventually be around 100, with a standard deviation of 10). So the norms on all of them are 100 average +/- 10, with 68% (Not 50%) of all people falling between 90-110. Here's the problem, whites and males do better (AND worse, this is important to remember). So the average IQ is higher for whites than other groups. Men have higher and lower scores. Here's the thinking: much of IQ tests, almost half of the questions, test what you've learned, the others test abilities (memory and things innate, or thought to be). Whites do better. Why? Well, one theory is that the test questions are written to be more sensitive and in tune with knowledge that is "standard." And, it's not necessarily taught in school, but at home too. The argument for sexism is that the test calls intelligence (things weighed more heavily) men are slightly better at; but the things where women are stronger are not weighed as heavily in the test. It's a bias, you are smarter if you can read a map, but not a book. It also seems to be more sensitive to men, unless you think men are more likely to be geniuses and mentally retarded.

Answer 4

I have had two IQ test, as a matter of course due to my dyslexia.
I read my first book at age 38 after work on my eyes, and am self employed craftsman, there for not so different from the fisherman above, I found the tests very accurate, but at the same time accept that the test should be expanded to allow for areas were differences in sex may be an issue

Answer 5

Any test of this type assumes that the people setting the test know all the right answers. If the questions are all set by white men, women and people from other races may be at a disadvantage.
The big problem with IQ tests is that they are made up by psychologists and they actually compare how much you think like a psychologist. Since most of the psychologists I know have distinctly flawed personalities, I'm not sure whether having a high IQ is a good thing or not.

Answer 6

If tests are not validated, there is a chance that it measures some sexes or races inaccurately. For example, all races should have an equal opportunity of answering the question correctly and a man should be just as likely as a woman to answer correctly. Statistically, if this is not correct, then the test is considered racist or sexist.

Answer 7

Written by white men, this test questions the same types of material typically taught to white kids, specifically, white males. This is why has been called sexist and racist ----it doesn't test on the same material taught in all schools, instead tests only what would have been learned in a classical education (typically taught at suburban schools) --one geared toward higher education. In suburban schools, kids are taught material that allows them to test well on university placement tests. Read "The Bell Curve Wars" book ---it gives a great, in depth explanation of how the test is sexist and racist.

Answer 8

A true IQ test is given to a five-year-old child. That's the age when you could predict accurately the child's natural intelligence. Once the child gets older, outside influences changes the child's intelligence and world perception to an extent that it becomes impossible to measure natural intelligence. Those who complain about IQs being sexist and racist are referring to IQ test given to teenagers. By that age, IQ tests are no longer valid and any IQ test given to teenagers are bogus.

Answer 9

currently, I'm not sure how it is racist. it used to be due to the language gap and studies saying that male WASPs scored the highest. those studies made the immigration laws of 1924.

sexist could come from the fact that IQ is more math and science based. women typically do better with langague, reading, writing, ect.
but that is a problem forthe minority of males who do better in reading, lang, writing, ect

Answer 10

How can an IQ test be racist ?

Answer 11

It all depends on how they frame the questions.

Some can be direct and blunt as in "Do you like ...?" Then there are only one of two answers yes or no.