Feminism and Science: Diana Blaine

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(From Chronicle of Higher Education Oct 4, 2000, "The State of Women's Studies" available at http://chronicle.com/colloquylive/transcripts/2000/10/20001004patai.htm)

Question from Diana York Blaine, U. of Southern California:
Doesn't the teaching of the periodic table imply that "man's" appropriate relationship with "nature" is one of dominance? And that we should search for the meaning of existence through science? Since when are such humanist assertions free from political implications?

Daphne Patai:
I'm confused by the reference to the periodic table as a "humanist assertion." Not to get too hung up on the example of the periodic table, but Diana seems to be saying that we can't teach about the principles of solid bridge construction without getting into questions of who builds bridges, men or women? whether or not they should at all be built? and so on. Their are appropriate fora, no doubt, for dealing with such questions, but I don't think they should be the main focus of an engineering program or a chemistry program.

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The above exchange, in which the first speaker attacks the "political" biases inherent in teaching chemistry, is not her only contribution to women's studies. She is a professor at USC. The second speaker tries to maintain rationality in the conversation; this can be difficult with some people. Before we continue, let me say this. I have determined to maintain a professional tone on this website. The issues I wish carefully to treat are simply too important to joke about. I have found that the seriousness and sobriety that seem prudent when dealing with ethnicity and feminism are not universally appreciated. The following link leads to a website that I first thought was a joke. Apparently this is that same person who thought the periodic table was sexist: a real professor at USC. In addition to possessing that hostility toward science that one occasionally finds in certain circles of "identity politics," she maintains a jocular attitude toward the very real problems at stake in her stance. Although one hopes it is hard to imagine a professor being unprofessional, especially about the things she professes, it is all real. It is no wonder that a genuine conversation about the issues I treat is so difficult, and no wonder that the debate in this country -- especially academia -- has become so polarized.

http://www.dianablaine.com/

New Flash: I have just discovered a website apparently from a USC Trojan who critiques Diana Blaine: go to http://cardinalmartini.mu.nu/ although I really think you must go to Blaine's website first -- in the same way that if you are going to write on, for example, T. S. Eliot's "Waste Land" you should read the poem first and let it wash over you before you read anything written about it.