You have lots of empathy there, and you also have science. 'Two, the evidence shows boys on average, obviously there are brilliant women scientists, brilliant women mathematicians, but they are more systematic, they like things, and that the girls are more empathetic and they like people. Professor Christina Pagel said she was 'incredibly sad' things had 'not really improved' in the two decades since she was a student 'One, girls perform well across the board so that they are spread out in terms of the subjects and I don't want to stop them from doing the subjects they really enjoy,' she said. Ms Birbalsingh went on to say that 'girls are more empathic' than boys and this helped explain why fewer were doing physics. She added that she agreed discrimination existed and that other factors, such as 'self-concept, lack of role models, that perhaps teachers aren't as encouraging for girls in various ways', play a role. When we have disparities, it does not mean we have discrimination.' 'The idea of pursuing equity, which is this idea of 50 per cent - 50 per cent is wrong. 'What we ought to be doing is trying to create an environment where all children can fulfill their potential, and that all vulnerable groups, whether their girls or ethnic minorities or disadvantaged children, poor children and so on, are able to have equality of opportunity. Speaking on the ITV show this morning, Ms Birbalsingh said: 'As I say I think cultural issues do play a part, but it's wrong to have this idea that we ought to have 50 per cent girls in all subjects and 50 per cent boys. Katharine Birbalsingh said part of the reason fewer girls do A-level physics is because they are more 'empathetic' than boys