WS 494: Feminist Approaches to Science and Technology
Student-created web site (click here)
Course Syllabus
Description:
This course brings feminist analysis to bear on the theory, practice
and social impact of contemporary science and technology. Far from debunking
science; our goal is to find out how the social categories of sex and gender
interact with science and technology. What kinds of challenges confront
women in science? What is the role of science in producing or contesting
western categories of gender? How do the knowledge systems of indigenous
women compare or contrast with western science? How will the spread of
new information technologies affect gender and sexuality in the material
worlds of today, and the virtual worlds of tomorrow?
Requirements:
Evaluation will be based on the two midterms (80%), class participation
(5%), and your contribution to the course webpage (15%). It is important
to bring the reading to class so that we can discuss the texts in
detail.
Texts:
Sandra Harding, Whose Science? Whose Knowledge?
Bonnie Spanier, Impartial Science
Vandana Shiva, Biopiracy
Sherry Turkle, Life on the Screen
*Reader (Grade A Notes)
Introduction to feminist science studies
March 31 -- Harding ch 1-3
April 2 -- video, "Eve of Destruction."
April 7 -- Harding ch 4-6
Intro to race, class and sexuality in feminist science studies
April 9 -- Harding ch 7-9
April 14 -- Harding ch 10-12
Gender ideology in molecular biology
April 16 -- Spanier ch 1-3
April 21 -- Spanier ch 4-5
Myths of biological determinism
April 23 -- Spanier 6-7
April 28 -- Spanier 8-Conclusion
April 30 -- Midterm exam
Ecofeminism and indigenous knowledge systems
May 5 -- Shiva intro-ch 2
May 7 -- Shiva ch 3-4
May 12 -- Shiva ch 4-7
Feminist scientists
May 14 -- *Sophia Kovaleskaya
May 19 -- *Patricia Cowing
Week 8) Gender and computing
May 21 -- Turkle parts I
May 26 -- Turkle part II
Week 9) Cyberspace
May 28 -- Field trip to computing lab
June 2 -- Turkle part III
Week 10 Conclusion
June 4 -- Reader: Donna Haraway, Student webpage presentations