Resident Alien: A Scientist in Women's Studies

Abstract

An autobiographical narrative of a natural scientist who has bridged the gap between hard science & women's studies describes the path that took her from teaching biology, to geography, to a tenure-track position in women's studies. It all started with the development of a "Women & Science" course for the biology department that led to teaching a similar course in the women's studies department. The importance of the perspective of science to both science & women's studies is discussed, noting the continuing expansion of feminist science studies, & the fruitful analyses that result from working across boundaries of the natural & social sciences. The disadvantages of combining disciplines are also discussed, along with the difficulties involved in attracting natural scientists to women's studies; changes that would occur if a feminist pedagogy were consistently employed within the natural sciences; & the potential for new intellectual & institutional configurations emerging from feminist science studies. 2 References. J. Lindroth