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Gender research of the scientific practice bring forth that science is situated, i.e. conditioned by historical situations, current societal ideologies and norms. Thus, gender research has problematised the notion of objectivity. Gender researchers have also pointed out the significance of language for how cultural conceptions of gender become incorporated in sciences. This course presents a review on how cultural notions of gender have influenced scientific theory and practice in different biological subjects: from cell and microbiology to animal behaviour.
We explore variation in sex, sexual characteristics and behaviour in animals and how cultural norms of gender and sexuality have influenced the way this diversity has been explained by evolutionary theory. We will also take a closer look at the way sex differences are described and explained in evolutionary biology. Through reading texts from Darwin as well as contemporary accounts of the evolution of sex differences, the course will give an understanding of mainstream perspectives and alternative ways of conceptualizing sex and sex differences.
This lecture also covers gender and queer perspectives on biology textbooks, popular science and nature documentaries on television and how these accounts affect public understandings of sex roles and formation of identities. Educational objectives: - To give a basic understanding of science as a cultural phenomenon and as such affected by societal ideologies
- To give an overview of variation in sex, sexual characteristics and behaviour among animals
- To give an account of basic evolutionary theory, as well as gender and queer perspectives of it
- Enable scrutinisation of scientific texts from gender/queer perspectives |
