Where to Start?

At this point, this class has read a good amount of literature on anthropology, science, and technology. The same song is being sung at the end of each reading, science culture is long due for a change. This week’s readings, “Double jeopardy in astronomy and planetary,” gave us the stats on racism and sexism in science by documenting people of color and women’s experiences. Banu spoke about her experience in an American grad school program and the sexism and racism she had to endure and have seen people endure. Traweek focused on the very elite and selective physics community and how who you are in the community’s eyes is what determines how far you are able to get in the field.

The same kind of people are the ones constantly in power: white upper class men. The way science has historically depict people of color and women has caused society to view them as less than. When people pursue science fields and see that the people being praised for their findings are white men it further confirms society’s feelings of these groups of being less than. When there are so many unspoken restrictions in science fields that are being brought into discussion, hearing all of the variable that can determine your exposure to science and your stance on/in these fields become overwhelming.

Exposing these issues allows the idea of change to take place, but when the issues are so deeply rooted in our culture how does one figure out the first steps to turn the culture around? It’s a daunting tasks to be the first of a certain group of people to attempt to be in the science fields and the many people who have been brave enough to endure everything that comes with that, are making a difference. I think starting anywhere with clear intentions is the best way to help science.