Seven people were killed in an avalanche in Canada, five men and two women. A tragedy, to be sure. The news commentator that I was listening to explained that while 30-50% of high mountain and back country skiers are women, only 6% of avalanche fatalities are women. He conjectured that this disparity is because women are more likely to speak up about potential danger, while men, especially in a highly competitive and power driven group, will not speak up to, literally, save their lives.

Extrapolations from that generalization are many. Is eagerness to participate in the competition more important than safety? Would men rather look macho to the group than correctly assess danger? Is the group's assessment of prowess and daring so important?
Clearly, there is some data collectible mechanism functioning.

Is it that women are more able to assess danger, or are men and women equally able to assess danger, but women are more able to articulate danger? If this is the case then, every war council, every building safety committee every decision making body should include the voice of women.

Women, speak!

(correlates: OnOneFoot, WritingRewards, HarrietNowellSmith, ...)