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

Professor Margaret W. Rossiter (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0801848938 | ISBN-13: 978-0801848933 | Publication Date: October 1, 1995 | Edition: 1

Margaret Rossiter's widely hailed Women Scientists in America: 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.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This sequel to Women Scientists in America: Struggles and Strategies to 1940 (LJ 10/15/82) documents a period that saw the increased male dominance of science despite growing numbers of qualified, highly trained professional women. In all areas-from memberships (not to mention the societal governing units) in professional societies, to representation on faculties, to fellowship/postdoctoral awards, etc.-women were sadly underrepresented. And those few who did achieve positions in the higher strata were generally paid less, given less prestigious titles, and otherwise underappreciated. Rossiter meticulously presents her data, sector by sector-formerly "female fields," academia, corporate business, and so on-up to the years 1968-72, which saw the women's revolt and the passage of meaningful equal-opportunity legislation. An eye-opening book; highly recommended.
Hilary D. Burton, Lawrence Livermore National Lab., Livermore, Cal.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A detailed account of the status of women scientists during an important transition period... Offering valuable information on women scientists and suggesting additional research opportunities, Rossiter's second volume stands as a significant contribution to both women's history and the history of American science." -- George E. Webb, American Historical Review

"Highly readable and exquisitely informative. Rossiter's documentation of this gloomy chapter in the history of women striving to make a place for themselves in science serves as a pungent antidote for questions concerning the fairness of affirmative action." -- Journal of American History

"What we have here is a remarkable example of historian as detective... The attention Rossiter gives to identifying individuals and the details she provides about marriage, barriers... underrecognition, disappointments, and -- yes -- real accomplishments and rewards breathes life into her frequently poignant account." -- Science

"Rossiter's resourcefulness and thoroughness yield a cornucopia of information... [Her] formidable achievement is to provide a full, complex picture of the marginalisation of American women scientists in this era... I recommend this book to anyone involved in science: the questions about the sexual politics of science it tackles and provokes are too important to be ignored." -- New Scientist

"Rossiter marshals an astounding array of evidence to assess women's work, roles, productivity, and advances as American scientists. Not content to study only those women who held collegiate faculty posts, she also examines female scientists in government, industry, and self-employment, devoting strong chapters to each... Most impressive in its careful, scientific approach to data that others have previously offered, analyzed, and packaged." -- Harvard Educational Review

"An engaging and eye-opening book... This is a story not only of science, but of the resolution and courage of women scientists who struggled to continue in their professions even when confronted repeatedly with adversity." -- Chemical and Engineering News

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 624 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press; 1 edition (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801848938
• ISBN-13: 978-0801848933
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,908,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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