ASCI 4030: SCIENCE AND GENDER
Winter 2008
T Th 2h30-3h50, MACK 317
Professor: Sofie Lachapelle
Office: MACKINNON Extension # 2016
Phone: (519) 824-4120 ext. 53214
Email: slachap@uoguelph.ca
Office hours: Wednesdays 2pm-4pm, or by appointment
This course explores the relationships between science and gender at different periods
in history by concentrating on three themes: 1. Women scientists: How have women
faired in careers to which they have limited access? What kind of science have they
practised? Is there something about the concept of science that excludes women as
scientists or is the reality more complex? 2. Scientific theories of gender: How have
scientific theories relating to gender shaped and been shaped by social trends? Have
scientific theories affected women's lives, in what ways? 3. Feminist theories of science:
What are the analytical tools that have been developed by feminists to understand how
science works and how it should work? How can these theories be applied to the
sciences? What kinds of problems can they solve or create? Throughout history, the
relation between science and gender has varied. By concentrating on specific theories,
events, and people, we will assess the different ways in which these questions can be
answered.
TEXTS:
•
•
Janet Kourany, The Gender of Science. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 2001.
Readings available on Library Course Reserve Online (password asci4030)
GRADING:
PARTICIPATION: 25%
IN-CLASS PRESENTATION: 25%
ESSAY PROPOSAL: 10% (due February 5)
IN-CLASS PRESENTATION OF ESSAY: 10%
ESSAY: 30% (4000 words, due April 3)
ASSIGNMENTS:
There are three major assignments for this course. The first is an in-class
presentation of a day’s readings. Students are expected to present a summary of the
readings, comparing it to other readings for the day, and suggest avenues of discussion
for the class. See separate sheet for instructions.
The second assignment will be to present to the class the work done on your final
essay (10 minutes followed by discussion, in class between March 25 and April 3.)
The third assignment will be the final essay (4000 words, due April 3.) The topics
will be chosen and developed by the student and discussed with me. An essay
proposal consisting of a working title, a preliminary outline of the essay, and an initial
bibliography will be due February 5. I expect to have spoken to each one of you and
agreed on a topic before that date.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
According to University regulations, participation cannot be based on attendance. Your
participation mark will therefore be based on evidence that you have done and
thought about the weekly readings, as well as your thoughtful contribution to class
discussion. What counts here is quality—in terms of conceptual, analytical, oral and
listening skills—rather than quantity. Simply showing up to class without
contributing to the discussion is not sufficient. If you have any concerns at all about
your participation mark, do not hesitate to come about talk to me.
LATE POLICY:
The penalty for late assignments is 4% per day (week-ends included.)
E-MAIL COMMUNICATION:
As per university regulations, all students are required to check their <uoguelph.ca> email account regularly: e-mail is the official route of communication between the
university and its students.
WHEN YOU CANNOT MEET A COURSE REQUIREMENT:
When you find yourself unable to meet an in-course requirement because of illness or
compassionate reasons, please advise the course instructor (or designed person) in
writing, with your name, id#, and e-mail contact. Where possible, this should be done
in advance of the missed work or event, but otherwise, just as soon as possible after the
due date, and certainly no longer than one week later. Note: if appropriate
documentation of your inability to meet that in-course requirement is necessary, the
course instructor, or delegate, will request it of you. Such documentation will rarely be
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required for course components representing less than 10% of the course grade. Such
documentation will be required, however, for Academic Consideration for missed endof-term work and/or missed final examinations. See the undergraduate calendar for
information on regulations and procedures for Academic Consideration
(http://www.uoguelph.ca/undergrad_calendar/08_ac.shtml) or the BA Counseling
Office Website (http://www.uoguelph.ca/baco )
COPIES OF OUT-OF-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
Keep paper and/or other reliable back-up copies of all out-of-class assignments: you
may be asked to resubmit work at any time.
DROP DATE:
The last day to drop a course for the winter 2008 semester is Friday, March 7, 2008. For
regulations and procedures for Dropping Courses, see the Undergraduate Calendar.
(http://www.uoguelph.ca/undergrad_calendar/c08/c08-drop.shtml)
STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:
The University of Guelph is committed to upholding the highest standard of academic
integrity and enjoins all members of the University community—faculty, staff, and
students—to be aware of what constitutes academic misconduct and to do as much as
possible to prevent academic offences from occurring. The University of Guelph takes a
serious view of academic misconduct, and it is your responsibility as a student to be
aware of and to abide by the University’s policy. Included in the definition of academic
misconduct are such activities as cheating on examinations, plagiarism,
misrepresentation, and submitting the same material in two different courses without
written permission from the relevant instructors. To better understand your
responsibilities, read the Undergraduate Calendar
(http://www.uoguelph.ca/undergrad_calendar/01.shtml) for a statement of Students’
Academic Responsibilities; also read the full Academic Misconduct Policy
(http://www.uoguelph.ca/undergrad_calendar/08_amisconduct.shtml). You are also
advised to make use of the resources available through the Learning Commons
(http://www.learningcommons.uoguelph.ca/) and to discuss any questions you may
have with your course instructor, TA, or academic counsellor.
Instructors have the right to use software to aid in the detection of plagiarism or
copying and to examine students orally on submitted work. For students found guilty
of academic misconduct, serious penalties, up to and including suspension or
expulsion, can be imposed. Hurried or careless submission of work does not exonerate
students of responsibility for ensuring the academic integrity of their work. Similarly,
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students who find themselves unable to meet course requirements by the deadlines or
criteria expected because of medical, psychological or compassionate circumstances
should review the university’s regulations and procedures for Academic Consideration
in the calendar (http://www.uoguelph.ca/undergrad_calendar/08_ac.shml) and discuss
their situation with the instructor and/or the program counsellor or other academic
counsellor as appropriate.
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CLASS LECTURES AND READINGS:
January 8: Introduction
I. WHO ARE WOMEN SCIENTISTS?
January 10: Historically I


Londa Schiebinger, “Women in the Origins of Modern Science.” Kourany
Sandra Harding, “Women of Third World Descent in the Sciences.” Kourany
January 15: Historically II


Dorinda Outram, “Before Objectivity: Wives, Patronage, and Cultural Reproduction
in Early Nineteenth-Century French Science.” Library Course Reserve Online
Marilyn Bailey Ogilvie, “Marital Collaboration: An Approach to Science.” Library
Course Reserve Online
January 17: Historically III


Barbara Gates, “Those Who Drew and Those Who Wrote. Women and Victorian
Popular Science Illustration.” Library Course Reserve Online
Ann B. Shteir, “Botany in the Breakfast Room: Women and Early NineteenthCentury British Plant Study.” Library Course Reserve Online
January 22: Recently and Currently I


Vivian Gornick, “Women in Science: Half In, Half Out.” Kourany
Naomi Weisstein, “ ‘How Can a Little Girl Like You Teach a Big Class of Men?’ the
Chairman Said, and Other Adventures of a Woman in Science.” Kourany
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January 24: Recently and Currently II



Evelyn Fox Keller, “The Anatomy of a Woman in Physics:” Kourany
Natalie Angier, “Women Join the Ranks of Science but Remain Invisible at the Top.”
Kourany
Phyllis Goldberg, “Creeping Toward Inclusivity in Science.” Kourany
January 29: LIBRARY SESSION with Jennifer Marvin
Held in computer lab in the basement of the library
II. WHAT KIND OF ENTERPRISE IS SCIENCE?
January 31: Science’s Aims, Methods, and Norms of Behaviour I


Brian Easlea, “Patriarchy, Scientists, and Nuclear Warriors.” Kourany
Catherine Hurt Middlecamp, “Culturally Inclusive Chemistry.” Kourany
February 5: Science’s Aims, Methods, and Norms of Behaviour II


Evelyn Fox Keller, “A World of Difference.” Kourany
Ann Oackley, “Interviewing Women: A Contradiction in Terms.” Kourany
February 5: Proposal Due
February 7: Science’s Subject Matter I


Londa Schiebinger, “Skeletons in the Closet: The First Illustrations of the Female
Skeleton in Eighteenth-Century Anatomy” Library Course Reserve Online
Emily Martin, “The Egg and the Sperm: How Science has Constructed a Romance
Based on Stereotypical Male-Female Roles” Library Course Reserve Online
February 12: Science’s Subject Matter II


Ruth Hubbard, “Have Only Men Evolved?” Kourany
Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, “Empathy, Polyandry, and the Myth of the Coy Female.”
Kourany
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February 14: Science’s Subject Matter III


The Biology Gender Study Group, “The Importance of Feminist Critique for
Contemporary Cell Biology.” Kourany
Sue Wilkinson, “Still Seeking Transformation: Feminist Challenges to Psychology.”
Kourany
February 18 to 25: Break
February 26: Science’s Subject Matter IV


Alice Domurat Dreger, “Doubtful Sex” Library Course Reserve Online
Alice Domurat Dreger, “Ambiguous Sex or Ambivalent Medicine? Ethical Issues in
the Treatment of Intersexuality” Library Course Reserve Online
February 28: Science’s Social Effects I


Anne Fausto-Sterling, “The Five Sexes. Why Male and Female Are not Enough.”
Library Course Reserve Online
Suzanne Kessler, “The Medical Construction of Gender: Case Management of
Intersex Infants.” Library Course Reserve Online
March 4: Science’s Social Effects II


Sue Rosser, “Androcentric Bias in Clinical Research.” Kourany
Nancy Krieger and Elizabeth Fee, “Man-Made Medicine and Women’s Health: The
Biopolitics of Sex/Gender and Race/Ethnicity.” Kourany
March 6: Science’s Social Effects III


Ruth Hubbard, “The New Procreative Technologies.” Kourany
Anne Fausto-Sterling, “A Question of Genius: Are Men Really Smarter than
Women?” Kourany
March 7 is the last day to drop a course
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III. WHAT KIND OF ENTERPRISE SCIENCE OUGHT TO BE?
March 11: Feminism Empiricism


Helen E. Longino, “Subjects, Power, and knowledge: Description and Prescription in
Feminist Philosophies of Science.” Kourany
Lynn Hankinson Nelson, Epistemological Communities.” Kourany
March 13: Feminist Standpoint Theory


Sandra Harding, “Strong Objectivity: A Response to the New Objectivity Question.”
Kourany
Joyce A. Ladner, “Introduction to Tomorrow’s Tomorrow: The Black Woman.”
Kourany
March 18: Feminist Postmodernism


Donna Haraway, “Situated Knowledge: The Science Question in Feminism and the
Privilege of Partial Perspective.” Kourany
Naomi Scheman, “Though This Be Method, Yet There Is Madness in It: Paranoia and
Liberal Epistemology.” Kourany
March 20: Conclusion


Londa Schiebinger, “Creating Sustainable Science.” Library Course Reserve Online
Sue V. Rosser, “Are There Feminist Methodologies Appropriate for the Natural
Sciences and Do They Make a Difference?” Library Course Reserve Online
IV. PRESENTATIONS
March 25: Student Presentations
March 27: Student Presentations
April 1: Student Presentations
April 3: Student Presentations
April 3: Essay Due