women in science

Science is largely a male-dominated field, with notable exceptions.A large majority of male scientists are the ones who have made the discoveries, written the books and thus have written the rules of what to study and how to study it. There is evidence suggesting that this is a product of stereotypes (e.g. science as "manly") as well as self fullfilling prophecies.Experiments have shown that parents challenge and explain more to boys than girls, asking them to reflect more deeply and logically.Physicist Evelyn Fox Keller argues that science has masculine stereotypes causing ego and competitiveness to obstruct progress, and that these tendencies prevent collaboration and sharing of information.

Feminist authors and leaders who hail from various educational backgrounds such as Londa schiebenger, Anne Fausto-sterling, Bonnie Spanier, and Evelyn Fox Keller have published many works interpreting and critiquing science from a feminist perspective. Some criticisms include the gendered metaphors in science, the lack of representation of females in the sciences, how science is used to back up the ideals of patriarchy, and sex/gender dichotomies. Feminist science studies as a sub-genre of Women studies or gender studies are available as areas of study in many universities as a method of activism to promote and encourage awareness of social issues as well as promoting women and intersex individuals to contribute more to the sciences.