136-206 Gender, Science and Technology

Note

Available as 136-306 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Normally 12.5 points of first-year HPS. Exemptions will be granted for 12.5 points in science or 12.5 points in the Interdepartmental programme in Women's Studies.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

In this subject students will examine historical, social and cultural issues concerning: (1) Women's participation in disciplines and careers involving scientific and technological expertise. (2) Attitudes to nature, body and mind which have provided the context for the development of science and technologies. (3) Debates focusing on gender in the history, philosophy and social studies of science. Students completing this subject will develop skills in posing and answering questions about the interactions between gender, science and technology, as a basis for: evaluating policies to increase the participation of women in areas involving scientific and technological expertise; analysing the role of gender in shaping the image, culture, and sometimes content of science and technology; and thinking critically about the contribution of science and technology to the meanings attributed to sex differences both now and in the past.

Assessment

A essay of 4000 words and a one-hour class test.

Prescribed Texts

There is no single recommended text for this subject. Booklets of readings will be available for purchase at the first lecture.