SYLLABUS Women's Studies/ Sociology 397C "Women and Science" U. of Maryland - Baltimore County Spring, 1991 Instructor: Dr. Susan Berkowitz Office: Fine Arts Room 452 (Women's Studies Office) Office Phone: 455-2001 Office Hours--6-7, Tuesday evenings (directly before class) COURSE DESCRIPTION: Guided by feminist critiques of science, this course will examine varied aspects of the relationship between women and science in our culture. The role of gender stratification in scientific professions will be examined, with an emphasis on cultural, structural and historical barriers to women's participation and advancement in science. The bases of cultural associations of science and masculinity will be examined, and the implications of these associations both for women and for conceptions of the nature of scientific activity will be explored. We will also critically examine scientific theories of the role of females in human evolution as well as explanations of cognitive differences between men and women, and will look intensively at how dominant scientific theories about female biology and and female sexuality have been shaped by wider social, cultural and political forces. Finally, we will look at feminist critiques of the dominant epistemology of science, consider the possibility and viability of a "feminist science," and explore ways in which the gender contradictions in science might be successfully overcome. TEXTS: Several books will be used as texts in this course. These are: Bleier, Ruth. FEMINIST APPROACHES TO SCIENCE Tuana, Nancy. FEMINISM AND SCIENCE Hardy, Sarah. WOMAN THAT NEVER EVOLVED Keller, Evelyn. A FEELING FOR THE ORGANISM Rossiter, Margaret. WOMEN SCIENTISTS IN AMERICA Although copies will be on reserve, it is strongly advised that students purchase these books. Another book that will be used, although not in its entirety, is Emily Martin's WOMAN IN THE BODY. It is recommended, but not required that students purchase this book. Additional readings, taken from other sources, will be required and will be made available on reserve at the library and at the Women's Studies library. These are indicated below. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Students will take an in-class midterm (20% of the grade); can choose either an in-class or a take-home final (30%); will write a brief (5 pp). paper, project or critical review on a topic of choice approved by the instructor (25%) ; and will participate in leading/directing at least one in-class discussion session. Class attendance and participation, including participation in the discussion session(s) , will count for another 25% of the grade. Exams will be of essay type. Papers/projects can take different forms. TEACHING METHOD : This course will be taught as a combination lecture/seminar. Most sessions will begin with a lecture summarizing the main points associated with the topic for the week. Following this will be a discussion and debate, which in some sessions will take the form of a group presentation/debate. COURSE SCHEDULE Feb 5 Topic: An Overview of the Issues readings: Introduction, Bleier, pp. 1-17. Marion Namenwirth, "Science Seen Through A Feminist Prism," in Bleier, pp. 18-41. S. Rosser, "Feminist Scholarship in the Sciences," in Tuana, pp. 3-14. Linda Schiebinger, "The History and Philosophy of Women in Science: A Review Essay," in Harding and O'Barr, SEX AND SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY, pp, 7-34 (reserve) Feb 12 Women in Science: Structural Barriers to Women's Advancement in Science readings: S. Rosser "The Relationship between Women's Studies and Women in Science," in Bleier, pp. 165-180. M. Rossiter, "Sexual Segregation in the Sciences: Some Data and a Model," in Harding and O'Barr, pp. 35-411. (reserve) S. Rosser, "Women in Science and Health Care: A Gender at Risk," in Rosser, FEMINISM WITHIN THE SCIENCE AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS (reserve) B. Vetter, "Where Are the Women In the Physical Sciences?", in Rosser Ibid., pp. 19-32 (reserve) and one of the following: Gero, "Gender Bias in Archeology: Here, Then, and Now," in Rosser, pp. 33-43 (reserve) Kronenfeld, "Women in Public Health," in Rosser, pp. 45-63. (reserve) Altekruse and McDermott, "Contemporary Concerns of Women in Medicine," in Rosser, pp. 65-88 (reserve) Feb 19 Psychological and Cultural Barriers to Women's Advancement in Science readings: S. Ortner, "Is Female to Male As Nature is to Culture?," in Michelle Rosaldo and Louise Lamphere, WOMAN, CULTURE AND SOCIETY, pp. 67-87. (reserve) N. Chodorow, "Family Structure and Feminine Personality," in Rosaldo and Lamphere Ibid pp. 43- 66. (reserve) C. Gilligan IN A DIFFERENT VOICE. Excerpts to be assigned. (Reserve) Begin reading Rossiter, WOMEN SCIENTISTS IN AMERICA. Feb 26 Historical Perspectives on Women in Science readings: Complete Rossiter, WOMEN SCIENTISTS IN AMERICA March 5 Women and Science: Perspectives on The Role of Women in Human Evolution readings: Hrdy, THE WOMAN THAT NEVER EVOLVED D. Haraway, "Primatology is Politics By Any Other Means," in Bleier, pp. 77-119. S. Hrdy, "Empathy. Polyandry and the Myth of the Coy Female," in Bleier, pp. 119-146. (optional) . March 12 Women and Science: Research on Male/Female Cognitive Differences readings: R. Bleier, "Sex Differences Research: Science or Belief?," in Bleier, pp. 147-164 J. Genova, "Women and the Mismeasure of Thought," in Tuana, pp. 211-227. S. Shields, "The Variability Hypothesis: The History of A Biological Model of Sex Differences in Intelligence," in Harding and O'Barr, OP.CIT., pp. 187-217 (reserve) H. Lambert, "Biology and Equality: A Perspective on Sex Differences," in Harding and O'Barr, pp. 125-147 (reserve) March 19 Review and Midterm March 26 Vacation April 2 Biological Perspectives on The Female Body readings: Tuana, "The Weaker Seed: The Sexist Bias of Reproductive Theory," in Tuana, pp. 147-172. "The Importance of Feminist Critique for Contemporary Cell Biology," in Tuana, pp. 172-188. T. Lacquer, "Orgasm, Generation and The Politics of Reproductive Biology," in Gallagher and Lacquer, The MAKING OF THE MODERN BODY, pp. 141 (reserve) E. Martin, The WOMAN IN THE BODY, pp. 27-67 (reserve) April 9 Biological Perspectives on the Female Body: Female Diseases readings: J. Zita, "The Premenstrual Syndrome: Diseasing the Female Cycle, " in Tuana, pp. 188-211. B. Ehrenreich and D. English, "The Sexual Politics of Sickness," in Conrad and Kern, THE SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS, pp. 281-296. (reserve) F. McCrea, "The Politics of Menopause: The "Discovery of A Deficiency Disease," in Conrad and Kern OP.CIT. pp. 296-308 (reserve) J. Brumberg, "Chlorotic Girls, 1870-1920: A Historical Perspective on Female Adolescence," in Leavitt, WOMEN AND HEALTH IN AMERICA, pp. 186-196 (reserve) April 16 Open Session: Contemporary Topics on The Impact of Science and Technology on Women's Bodies reading: Martin, pp. 71-178 Possible Topic: Impact of New Birth Technologies Rough Draft of Paper/Project Due April 23 Feminist Perspectives on the Nature and Practice of Science readings: E. Fee, "Critiques of Modern Science: The Relationship of Feminism to Other Radical Epistemologies," in Bleier, pp. 42-52. S. Harding, "Is There A Feminist Method," in Tuana, pp., 17-33. R. Hubbard, "Science, Facts and Feminism," in Tuana, pp. 119-131 E. Keller, "The Gender/Sex System: or, Is Sex Gender as Nature Is to Science?," in Tuana, pp. 33-44. Begin Keller, A FEELING FOR THE ORGANISM April 30 Do Women Do Science and See Science Differently? A Case Study: Barbara McClintock reading Complete A FEELING FOR THE ORGANISM Project/Paper Due May 7 Is There Such a Thing As "Feminist Science"? Could There Be? Should There Be? reading: H. Rose, "Beyond Masculinist Realities: A Feminist Epistemology for the Sciences," in Bleier, pp. 57-76. H. Longino, "Can There Be A Feminist Science?," in Tuana, pp. 45-58. R. Ginzberg, "Uncovering Gynocentric Science," pp. 69-84, in Tuana. May 14 Review/ In-class Final ***************************************************************** SOCIETY, BIOLOGY, AND GENDER (WMST390/SOCY397) U. of Maryland - Baltimore County Spring 1986 COURSE INFORMATION The course will be taught by weekly lectures, student presentations, readings, and class discussions. Class will meet Monday evenings from 7:00-9:30 p. m. Classroom: SS 203 Instructor: Ruth Finkelstein Office Hours: 5:30-7:00 Monday F.A. 436 455-2040 Leave Messages in Women's Studies Office: FA 452 x2OOl REQUIREMENTS 2 short oral presentations 1 essay on a week's topic Final Exam Completion of assigned readings and participation in class discussion READINGS I. Required books: available in the bookstore and on reserve in the library 1. Bleier, R. SCIENCE AND-GENDER. New York: Pergamon Press, 1984. 2. Caplan, A.L. (ed.) THE SOCIOBIOLOGY DEBATE, New York: Harper and Row, 1978. 3. Lewontin, R.C., Rose, S., Kamin, L. NOT IN OUR GENES. New York: Pantheon, 1984. 4. Sapiro, V. (ed.) WOMEN, BIOLOGY, AND PUBLIC POLICY, Beverly Hills: Sage, 1985 II. Optional books-available in the bookstore and on reserve in the library 1. Fee, E. (ed.) WOMEN AND HEALTH: THE POLITICS OF SEX IN MEDICINE. Farmingdale: Baywood, 1983. 2. Keller, E.F. A FEELING FOR THE ORGANISM. New York: W. H. Freeman, 1983. 3. Rossiter, M.W. WOMEN SCIENTISTS IN AMERICA. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1982. *4. Teitelbaum, M.S. SEX DIFFERENCES: SOCIAL AND BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES. Garden City: Anchor Books, 1976. *This book is out of print, so the bookstore has only a few copies. The assigned chapters are copied and on reserve in the library. III. Other required readings-available on reserve in the library Much of the assigned reading is from books and articles other than those you have purchased. This is all copied and on reserve in the library. **NOTE: ALLOW YOURSELF SEVERAL HOURS IN THE LIBRARY EACH WEEK TO READ** IV. Bibliography An excellent bibliography through 1979 was compiled by May Sue Henifin and published in Hubbard, R., Henifin, M.S., and Fried, B. WOMEN LOOK AT BIOLOGY LOOKING AT WOMEN. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1979. It is copied and is on reserve in the library. A less comprehensive bibliography of more recent material will be provided. SYLLABUS A topic will be covered each week. There are both required and recommended readings for every topic. Please complete these BEFORE each class meeting. Session I INTRODUCTION AND ORGANIZATION Jan. 27 Introductions Discussion of requirements and syllabus Selection of topics for presentations Session II THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF SCIENCE: THE SCIENTIFIC CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER FEB. 3 Required: Bleier-Chapter I Lewontin et al Chapters I & 2 Keller, E.F. REFLECTIONS ON GENDER AND SCIENCE. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1985 Introduction (pp.3-14) Recommended: Rose, H. and Rose, S. SCIENCE AND SOCIETY, New York: Penguin, 1969. Chapter 13 "Science and Society" (pp. 240-271) Harding, S. "Why Has the Sex/Gender System Become Visible Only Now?" in Harding, S. and Hintikka, M.B. (eds.) DISCOVERING REALITY. Boston: D. Reidel, 1983. J. Smith. "Feminist Analysis of Gender: A Critique" in Lowe, M. and Hubbard, R. WOMAN'S NATURE. New York: Pergamon Press, 1983. Session III BIOLOGY EXPLAINS BEHAVIOR: BRAINS, BRAWN, HORMONES AND SEX Feb. 10 Required: Bleier, Chapters 3 & 4 Lowe, M. "The Dialectic of Biology and Culture" in Lowe and Hubbard (eds.), 1983 Levine, S. "Sex Differences in the Brain in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, April 1966, pp. 84-90. Butler, S. "Sex Differences in Human Cerebral Function" in DeVries, G. J. et al (eds.) PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH, vol. 61, 1984. Recommended: browse through Money, J. LOVE AND LOVE SICKNESS. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1980. Lewontin-Chapters 4 & 5 Sapiro-Chapter 3 Session IV INQUIRY INTO ORIGINS: EVIDENCE FROM PRIMATE STUDIES AND PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY FEB. 17 Required: Bleier-Chapter 5 Teitelbaum-Chapter 2 : Lancester, J.B. "Sex Roles in Primate Societies" Hubbard, R. "Have Only Men Evolved?' in Hubbard, R., Henifin, M.S., and Fried, B. (eds.) WOMEN LOOK AT BIOLOGY LOOKING AT WOMEN. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1979. Haraway, D. "Animal Sociology and a Natural Economy of the Body Politic": Parts I and II in SIGNS, Vol. 4, 1978. (pp. 21-60) Recommended: Lewontin et al-Chapter 6 Hamilton, W.D. "The Genetical Evolution of Social Behavior" in Caplan, A.L. (ed) Session V THE UNIVERSAL INVESTIGATED THROUGH THE PARTICULAR: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FEB.24 Required: Bleier-Chapter 6 Teitelbaum-Chapter 4: Brown, J.K. 'An Anthropological Perspective On Sex Roles and Subsistence" Leacock, E. "Ideologies of Male Dominance as Divide and Rule Politics: An Anthropologist's View" in Lowe and Hubbard Ortner, S.B. and Whitehead, H. "Introduction: Accounting for Sexual Meanings" (pp. 1-28) in Ortner and Whitehead (eds.) SEXUAL MEANINGS. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981. Recommended: Ortner, S.B. "Gender and Sexuality in Hierarchical Societies: The Case of Polynesia and Some Comparative Implications" in Ortner and Whitehead Collier, J.F. and Rosaldo, M.Z. "Politics and Gender in Simple Societies" in Ortner and Whitehead Selections from Reiter, R.R TOWARD AN ANTHROPOLOGY OF WOMEN. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1975. Look particularly at: Slocum,S. "Women the Gatherer: Male Bias in Anthropology" Gough,K. "The Origin of the Family" Rubin, G. "The Traffic in Women: Notes on the 'Political Economy' of Sex" Sachs, K. 'Engels Revisited: Women, the Organization of Production, and Private Property" Session VI A CASE STUDY OF THE DETERMINANTS OF A DETERMINISM: SOCIOBIOLOGY March 6 REQUIRED: Bleier-Chapter 2 Lewontin et al-Chapter 9 Caplan (ed): "Introduction' (pp. 1-13); E.O. Wilson, "For Sociobiology" Recommended: Browse further in the Caplan book. Look particularly at: Caplan, A.L. "Ethics, Evolution, and the Milk of Human Kindness" Alper, J. et al "The Implications of Sociobiology Gould, S.J. "Biological Potential vs. Biological Determinism" Sahlins, M.D. "The Use and Abuse of Biology" Durham, W.H. "Toward a Coevolutionary Theory of Human Biology and Culture" Session VII SEXUALITY: A DIALECTIC OF BIOLOGY AND SYMBOLS March 10 Required: Bleier-Chapter 7 Fried, B. "Boys Will be Boys: The Language of Sex and Gender in Hubbard, Henifin, Fried (eds) Foucault, M. THE HISTORY OF SEXUALITY. New York: Vintage Books, 1978. Part One and Part Two (pp. 1-49) Faulkner, W."The Obsessive Orgasm: Science, Sex and Female Sexuality" in The Brighton Women and Science Group (eds.) ALICE THROUGH THE MICROSCOPE. London: Virago, 1980) Recommended: Money,J. "Differentiation of Gender Identity Role" in DELAWARE MEDICAL JOURNAL, March, 1984, vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 161-171. Smith-Rosenberg, C. "The Female World of Love and Ritual' in Leavitt, J.W. (ed.) WOMEN AND HEALTH IN AMERICA. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1984. Degler, C.N. "What Ought To Be and What Was" in Leavitt (eds) Look at Money, J. and Tucker, P. SEXUAL SIGNATURES. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1975. Session VIII HOMOSEXUALITY AS VIEWED FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON SEXUALITY March 17 Required: Rich, A. "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" in SIGNS, vol.5, no. 4, 1980). Meyer-Bahlburg, H.F.L. "Psychoendocrine Research on Sexual Orientation: Current Status and Future Options" in DeVries (ed) 1984. Birke, L. "From Zero to Infinity: Scientific Views of Lesbians" in ALICE THROUGH THE MICROSCOPE Rose, R.M. "Testosterone, Aggression, and Homosexuality: A Review of the Literature and Implications for Further Research" in Sachar, E.J. (ed.) TOPICS IN PSYCHOENDOCRINOLOGY. New York: Grune and Stratton, 1975. Recommended: Whitehead, H. 'The Bow and the Burden Strap: A New Look at Institutionalized Homosexuality in Native North America" in Ortner (ed), 1981. Rupp, L.J. "Imagine My Surprise," in Leavitt (ed), 1984 Arditti, R, Klein, R.D., and Minden,S. TEST-TUBE WOMEN Boston: Pandora Press, 1984 Look at articles: Hornstein, F. 'Children by Donor Insemination: A New Choice for Lesbians" Klein, R.D. "Doing it Ourselves: Self Insemination" Lieberson, J. "The Reality of AIDS" in NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS, Jan. 16, 1986. March 24 VACATION -No Class Session IX REPRODUCTION: RIGHTS, TECHNOLOGIES, POLICIES March 31 Required: Sapiro-Chapters 4 and 10 Petchesky, R.P. "Abortion in the 1980's: Feminist Morality and Women's Health' in Lewin, E. and Olesen, V. (eds) WOMEN, HEALTH, AND HEALING New York: Tavistock Publications, 1985. Fee, E. and Finkelstein, R. "Abortion: The Politics of Necessity and Choice" forthcoming in FEMINIST STUDIES, 1966. Corea, G. THE MOTHER Machine. New York: Harper and Row, 1985. Chapter 14 (pp 272-282) Recommended: Browse through THE TEST-TUBE WOMAN, particularly: Introduction Rowland, R. "Reproductive Technologies: The Final Solution to the Woman Question?" Hubbard, R. "Personal Courage Is Not Enough: Some Hazards of Child-bearing in the 1980's" Session X WOMEN'S HEALTH AND WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE April 7 Required: Sapiro Chapters 5 and 6 Fee, E. "Women and Health Care: A Comparison of Theories" in Fee,E. (ed) WOMEN AND HEALTH: THE POLITICS OF SEX IN MEDICINE. Farmingdale: Baywood, 1983. Lewin, E. and Olesen, V. "Occupational Health and Women: the Case of Clerical Work" in Lewin and Olesen (eds). Larned, D. "The Epidemic in Unnecessary Hysterectomy" in Dreifus, C. (ed) SEIZING OUR BODIES. New York: Vintage Books, 1977. Recommended: 3 articles in E. Fee (ed): Rindfuss, R.R., Ladinsky, J.L. et al. "Convenience and the Occurrence of Births" Waldron,I. "Employment and Women's Health" Gordon, L. "The Politics of Birth Control, 1920-1940" Cornea, G. 1985 Chapter 16 pp. 303-317. Lewontin et al. Chapters 7 and 8. Session XI HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF DISEASE AND THE DISEASED Required: Fee, E. "Science and the Woman Problem: Historical Perspectives" in Teitlebaum (ed). Rosenberg, C.E. NO OTHER GODS. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1976. Chapters 2 and 3 Figlio, K. "Chlorosis and Chronic Disease in 19th Century Britain" in Fee,E. (ed) Sicherman, B. 'The Uses of a Diagnosis: Doctors, Patients and Neurasthenia" in Leavitt, J.L. and Numbers, R.L. (eds) SICKNESS AND HEALTH IN AMERICA. Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1978. Recommended: Ehrenreich, B. and English, D. "Complaints and Disorders: The Sexual Politics of Sickness" in Dreifus (ed) Session XII WOMEN SCIENTISTS AND HEALTH WORKERS April 21 Required: Brown, C.A. 'Women Workers in the Health Service Industry' in Fee (ed). Weisstein, N. "Adventures of a Woman in Science" in Hubbard, Henifin, Fried (eds) Gornick, V. WOMEN IN SCIENCE. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1983. Part III. p. 117-162. Rossiter, M.W. WOMEN SCIENTISTS IN AMERICA. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press,1982. Select at least one chapter that interests you. Recommended: Read further in Rossiter's book Weaver, J.L. and Jarrett, S.D. "Sexism and Racism in the American Health Care Industry" in Fee (ed) Brack, D.C. "Displaced--The Midwife by the Male Physician" in Hubbard, Henifin, Fried (eds) Weiss,K. "What Medical Students Learn About Women" in Dreifus Session XIII GENDER AND WORK April 28 Required: Hartmann, H. "Capitalism, Patriarchy, and Job Segregation by Sex' in Eisenstein, Z. R. CAPITALIST PATRIARCHY AND THE CASE FOR SOCIALIST FEMINISM. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1979. Hartsock, N.C.M. "The Feminist Standpoint: Developing the Ground for a Specifically Feminist Historical Materialism" in Harding and Hintikka (eds). Messing, K. "Do Men and Women Have Different Jobs Because of Their Biological Differences?" in Fee (ed) Recommended: Three selections in Lowe and Hubbard (eds): Hubbard, R. "Social Effects of Some Contemporary Myths About Women" Burnham, D. "Black Women As Producers and Reproducers for Profit" Leibowitz, L. 'Origins of the Sexual Divisions of Labor" Rothschild, J. "Technology, Housework, and Women's Liberation: A Theoretical Analysis" in Rothschild, J. (ed) MACHINE EX DEA. New York: Pergamon, 1983 Session XIV WOMEN, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE LABOR MARKET May 5 Required: Grossman, Rachel. "Women's Place in the Integrated Circuit,' SOUTHEAST ASIA CHRONICLE, Vol. 66, Jan.-Feb.,1979. (pp. 2-17). Fernandez, M.P. "Gender and Industry on Mexico's New Frontier" in Zimmerman, J. (ed) THE TECHNOLOGICAL WOMAN. New York: Praeger, 1983. Green, Susan. "Silicon Valley's Women Workers: A Theoretical Analysis of Sex-Segregation in the Electronics Industry Labor Market" in Nash,J. and Fernandez-Kelly, M.P. (eds) WOMEN, MEN, AND THE INTERNATIONAL DIVISION OF LABOR. Albany: SUNY Press, 1982. Beneria, Lourdes. "Gender, Skill and the Dynamics of Women's Employment." Paper presented at the Gender in the Workplace Conference, Brookings Institution, November, 1984. (Revised, May,1985). Recommended: Fuentes, A. and Ehrenreich, B. WOMEN IN THE GLOBAL FACTORY. Boston: South End Press, 1983. Benston, "For Women, the Chips Are Down" in Zimmerman (ed) Fernandez-Kelly, M.P. FOR WE ARE SOLD: I AND MY PEOPLE Albany: SUNY, 1983. Haraway, Donna. "A Manifesto for Cyborgs" in SOCIALIST REVIEW Spring, 1985. Saffioti, Heleieth. "Technological Change in Brazil: Its Effect on Men and Women in Two Firms," in Nash and Fernandez-Kelly (eds) Session XV STEPS TOWARD A GENDER FREE SCIENCE May 12 Required: Bleier-Chapter 8 Fee, E. "Women's Nature and Scientific Objectivity" in Lowe and Hubbard, (eds) Keller, E.F. REFLECTIONS ON GENDER AND SCIENCE, Chapter 4 Lewontin et al., Chapter 10 Recommended: Fee, E. "Critiques of Modern Science: The Relationship of Feminism and Other Radical Epistemologies" in Bleier, R. (ed) FEMINIST APPROACHES TO SCIENCE. New York: Pergamon Press, 1986. Keller. E.F. A FEELING FOR THE ORGANISM May 19 Final Exam