Female-Friendly Science: Applying Women's Studies Methods and Theories to Attract Students

Description

During the past two decades, the feminist community has sharpened its critique within the academy, extending women's studies to the scientific disciplines. Development of feminist pedagogical techniques and of feminist theory to include the consideration of race and class with gender have provided increasingly sophisticated approaches to include women and people of color. The pedagogy and theories developed for women's studies have reached the point at which they may be successfully applied to problems outside that field. The purpose of this book is to explore the potential of feminist pedagogical methods and theories of women's studies to attract women and people of color to science. The exploration begins with an evaluation of the current reports surrounding the crisis in American higher education. The crisis and its correlated dearth of scientists and engineers is accurately depicted in the reports. However, the back to basics solutions suggested by their authors are unlikely to attract the women and minorities needed to fill the shortage. Contents Crisis in Higher Education Feminist Theories and Methods The M. Butterfly Dilemma Women's Ways of Knowing Toward Inclusionary Methods Sexism in Textbooks Warming up the ClassroomClimate for Women Conclusion References Author Index Subject Index