The general reasoned response to this type of statement is that it
does not take into account historical realities and is probably
heavily biased in Western Christian history. You could bring up
examples such as (i) that Socrates and Plato were originally the
protoges of prominent female scholars (ii) that entire libraries were
burned during Christian attacks on advanced 'pagan' civilizations so
we don't have an accurate record of who their prominent thinkers
were, (iii) that one of the greatest known ancient mathematicians of
all time, Hypatia, was murdered by monks and her library burned
simply because she was a woman, and (iv) what about Marie Curie, the
Countess of Lovelace, Sappho?
You could also point out that until very recently most women were
prohibited by law from attending school or even reading books, and that
these prohibitions were often enforced through beatings or commitment to
asylums. It is believed that many women who exhibited signs of early
genius were treated as socially rebellious or mentally anamolous.
Sin,
Kathryn Aegis
[warning: not for use with mono devices]