Margaret's logic is shallow.  "women’s career choices,  are overwhelmingly on the “soft” side. There’s also a sizable body of research showing that even women who are highly career-minded are less intent on attaining senior positions than men are."  Why are women's choices on the 'soft' side?  I'll tell you why.  Systemic social pressures.  As a high school student in the late 80s, I remember being called into the office to be told that I was the only girl signed up for drafting class, and did I want to reconsider my choice?  Intimidated, I transferred to typing.  I recall in grad school, the students being groomed for advancement to top academia positions were male.  Neil Degrasse Tyson wonderfully explains his experience of teachers repeatedly encouraging him to pursue sports rather than science.  Thank God he did not allow this to stop him, or the world would have lost an amazing mind.  In this environment, is it any wonder that "women's career choices are 'soft'"?