Women Scientists in America: Before Affirmative Action, 1940-1972

by Margaret W. Rossiter

Winner of the Pfizer Award for Outstanding Book in the History of Science Margaret Rossiter's widely hailed Women Scientists in Struggles and Strategies to 1940 marked the beginning of a pioneering effort to interpret the history of American women scientists. That effort continues in this provocative sequel that covers the crucial years of World War II and beyond. Rossiter begins by showing how the acute labor shortage brought on by the war seemed to hold out new hope for women professionals, especially in the sciences. But the public posture of welcoming women into the scientific professions masked a deep-seated opposition to change. Rossiter proves that despite frustrating obstacles created by the patriarchal structure and values of universities, government, and industry, women scientists made genuine contributions to their fields, grew in professional stature, and laid the foundation for the breakthroughs that followed 1972.

Genres: Science, Feminism, History Of Science, History, Gender

624 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not for everyone; it is very academic and statistical. Interspersed are examples of specific women’s experiences in brief, and some nice pictures, but this is largely an overview of women in science studies and professions as a whole. It particularly features higher education - most of the book focuses on graduate schools as places of study and employment for women. This book makes clear the ignorance and casual misogyny that has pervaded our culture for decades and the systematic barriers that have consciously and unconsciously held back women and other minorities. While it is rather dry, very numerical, and somewhat overly focused on academia, it is also clear and enlightening.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worthy follow up the first history