Seminar about the feminist critique on science
There is no longer much need to argue about the fact that sexist ideas influence the production of scientific knowledge. In medicine, the male body is taken as the standard; the inventor of the first pill was apparently so committed to controlling population growth that he ignored possible health risks for women. And archaeology operated with gendered categories of 'gatherer and hunter' for decades. Are these simply examples of bad science done by biased researchers? Or is science as an enterprise possibly designed in such a way that discriminatory ideas can flourish under the guise of the ideal of value-free objectivity?
In the seminar we pose the question where and on what level feminist critique of science can and should start. We will deal with the three branches of feminist epistemology and get to know the arguments against the common conception of objectivity as well as ideas of what feminist science can look like. Of course, we will also take a closer look at the difficulties that arise for the different approaches. While you won't earn any credit points, you can discover classics such as Sandra Harding, Helen Longino and Donna Haraway - readings that are not only nuanced but also humorous. While the readings will be in english, the Seminar will take place in german. What is read in the last part of the seminar is up to you as participants to decide. We could, for example, take a look at the practice of feminist science in the field of medicine or neuroscience or take a trip into decolonial critique of science.
Sounds interesting? Then write a mail to inga.gittermann@rub.de so I have an overview of who is coming, or if in doubt, just come by. The first session is on Thursday, 26.10, from 4-6 pm in Martin-Schmeißer-Weg 8, room 08.00.05.