Texts:
A Feeling for the Organism by Evelyn Fox Keller
Marie Curie a Life by Susan Quinn
Readings on reserve in the library
Course Content:
This ½ credit course will examine the rich and often problematic
relationship between women and science/technology.
This course will examine the relationships between gender and science in practical terms and from theoretical perspectives. The topics to be covered will include:
Grading:
There will be no exams in this course. I believe that in this
type of course, it is more appropriate to base your grades on your participation
in class and the two papers that you will write. Your grade will
be based on the following distribution of work:
First paper 1/3 of total grade
Second paper 1/3 of total grade
Informed Class participation 1/3 of total grade
Papers:
Throughout this course, we will read just a sampling of the wealth
of writing produced on the topic of women in science. For the first
paper, you will select one particular aspect of the field and conduct a
review of current literature. The topic must be selected and approved
by the instructor by January 25, 2001. Prior to having the instructor
approve the topic, each student should do an initial literature search
and construct a brief outline of the topic. The paper should summarize
the major issues and identify important themes and shortcomings on the
selected topic. Since this is to cover current literature, all sources
must be less than 15 years old. Your paper must include a complete
bibliography of sources found. The estimated length of the paper
is 5 to 7 pages. The first paper will be due February 15, 2001.
In the second paper, you will research one discipline in an area of math, science or technology and write about the current status, changes in the past and initiatives undertaken to improve sex-equity in that discipline. This paper is due April 26, 2001. On the final day of class, each student will present an overview of results of her or his research on a particular discipline.
Participation:
This course is a seminar, and your informed participate is vital to
its success. You are expected to read critically and do all of the
readings prior to class. During the semester, you are asked to prepare
a synopsis and an analysis of the set of assigned readings. At the
beginning of the class period, this synopsis will be presented orally to
that class and will initiate our class discussion. The synopsis should
be 1-2 typed pages. It will be turned in and be incorporated into
your class participation grade.
You should prepare for each class as if you were responsible for a synopsis whether you are or not. I expect everyone will actively participate in the class discussions.
If you are unable to attend class for any reason, you may submit a 4 page critique on the assigned readings. This will allow you to make-up for the missed discussion and the absence will not affect your grade. Any absences without the corresponding make-up work submitted will result in a lowering of the participation grade.
I fully expect you to spend 4-6 hours per week reading and writing for
this course.
Both the quality and quantity of your participation will be considered
in grading. Examples are as follows:
· Demonstrated ability to verbalize knowledge of assigned readings
· Demonstrated ability to verbalize prepared material for class
assignments
· Demonstrated attempts to integrate information across several
sources
· Demonstrated ability to answer questions asked by other students
and the instructor
· Demonstrated ability to spontaneously contribute information
and shared experiences
· Demonstrated ability to ask questions of other students regarding
their analysis of reading and discussion
· Demonstrated ability to participate in class and discussions
· Attendance
It is up to you to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the
required class material and related topics. Please understand that
the evaluation of your participation will necessarily involve the instructor’s
informed but subjective judgment.
| Date | Topic |
| January 4 | Introduction |
| January 11 | Historical Perspective
Readings: Rossiter, Margaret. 1982. Women Scientists in America. Johns Hopkins Univerisity Press. Introduction and Chapter 1 Taylor, Janet. 2000. “Pioneer Women in Nuclear Physics.” Physics Education. Nov. 35(6): 446-451 Marie Curie a Life by Susan Quinn Chapters 1-3
|
| January 18 | Historical Perspective
Readings: Rossiter, Margaret. 1982. Women Scientists in America. Johns Hopkins Univerisity Press. Chapter 2-3 and Conclusion Marie Curie a Life by Susan Quinn Chapters 4 and 5
|
| January 25 | Theories and Research on Barriers
Readings: Matyas, Marsha. 1985. “Factors affecting female achievement and interest in science and in scientific careers”. Women in Science: A Report from the Field. Edt J. B. Kahle. The Palmer Press Kelly, Allison, 1982. “Why girls don’t do science”. American Scientist. May 20. P. 497-500. Stadler, Helga, R. Duit, and G. Benke. 2000. Do Boys and Girls Understand Physics Differently?” Physics Education. Nov. 35(6): 417-422. Marie Curie a Life by Susan Quinn Chapters 6 and 7 |
| February 1 | Theories and Research on Barriers
Readings: Palmer, M. A. 1989. “The Gender Gap in Science” The World & I 4:314-319 DeBoer, G. E. 1986. Perceived science ability as a factor in the course selection of men and women in college”. J Res. Sci. Teach. 23:343-352. Marie Curie a Life by Susan Quinn Chapters 8 and 9 |
| February 8 | The Gender and Mathematics Issue
Readings: Wilson, Meg. 1992. Part 2. Mathematics: The Mastery Key. Options for Girls A Door to the Future. Foundation for Women’s Resources. pg 79-132. Marie Curie a Life by Susan Quinn Chapters 10-12 |
| February 15 | The Leaking Pipeline and The Glass Ceiling
Readings: Barinaga, Marcia. 1992. “Profile of a field Neuroscience: The pipeline is leaking” Science. March 13. 1366-1967 Windall, Sheila. 1988. “AAAS Presidential Lecture: Voices from the Pipeline.” Science. Vol 241. 1740-1745. Mulnix, Amy. “Change the Woman or Change the Graduate School.” Proceeding of the National Conference of Women in Mathematics and Sciences. Pg 95-97. Growing number of women drawn to chemistry careers, but few reach top ranks.” C and EN. October 1991. 31-34. Marie Curie a Life by Susan Quinn Chapters 13 and 14
|
| February 22 | Chilly Climate Issue
Readings: Sandler, Bernice. 1986. Publications of the Project on the Status and Education of Women; Association of American Colleges: “The Campus Climate Revisited: A chilly one for women faculty, administrators and graduate students” MIT report Marie Curie a Life by Susan Quinn Chapters 15 and 16 |
| March 1 | Spring Break—no Classes |
| March 8 | Discussion of Marie Curie by Susan Quinn.
Readings: Marie Curie a Life by Susan Quinn Chapters 17-19 |
| March 15 | Charting a Career and Avoiding Barriers
Readings: (select at least 3 of the following 6 articles) Cole, J. R. and H. Zucherman. 1987. “Marriage, motherhood and research performance in science”. Scientific American. Feb. 119-125. Weiler, C. S., and P. H. Yancey. 1989. “Dual-Career couples & science: opportunities, challenges and strategies” Oceanography Nov. 28-59 Gibbons, Ann. 1992. “Key Issue: Two-Career Science Marriage” Science. March 13. 1380-1981 O’Connell, Lenahan, M. Betz and S. Kurth. 1989. “Plans for Balancing Work and Family Life: Do Women Pursuing Nontraditional and Traditional Occupations Differ?” Sex Roles. Vol. 20 (1/2). 35-45. Sonnert, Gerhard and Gerald Holton. 1996. “Career Patterns of Women and Men in the Sciences.” American Scientist. Jan.-Feb. 84: 63-71. Hodgson, Barbara, E. Scanlon and E. Whitelegg. 2000. “Barriers and Constraints: Women physicists’ perceptions of career progress.” Physics Education. Nov. 35(6): 454-459. A Feeling for the Organism by Evelyn Fox Keller Chapters 1-3
|
| March 22 | International Perspectives
Readings: Hodgson, Barbara. 2000. “Women in Science—or are they?” Physics Education. Nov. 35(6): 451-453 Stolte-Heiskanen, Veronica. 1991. Women in Science Token Women or Gender Equality. Berg Publishers Limited. Introduction, Chapter 13 and one chapter of choice from chapter 1-12. A Feeling for the Organism by Evelyn Fox Keller Chapters 4 and 5
|
| March 29 | Feminist Theory of Doing Science: are there gender differences?
View Video “Science and Gender with Evelyn Fox Keller” Readings: Keller, Evelyn Fox. 1987. The Gender/Science System: or Is Sex to Gender as Nature Is to Science?” pp. 33-44. In Feminism and Science, Indiana University Press. Keller, Evelyn Fox. 1996. Feminism and Science. pp. 28-40 In Feminism and Scince, Oxford University Press. A Feeling for the Organism by Evelyn Fox Keller Chapters 6 and 7 |
| April 5 | Feminist Theory on Doing of Science
Readings: Haring Sandra. 1989 “Is there a Feminist Method?” pp. 17-32 In Feminism and Science, Indiana University Press. Longino, Helen. 1987. Can there be a feminist Science? pp. 45-57 In Feminism and Science, Indiana University Press A Feeling for the Organism by Evelyn Fox Keller Chapters 8 and 9 |
| April 12 | Easter Break –No classes |
| April 19 | Discussion of A Feeling for the Organism by Evelyn Fox
Keller
Readings: A Feeling for the Organism by Evelyn Fox Keller Chapters 10-12 |
| April 26 | Reports on Disciplines
Final Paper Due |
Note: class will not meet during the final exam period.