The University of Wisconsin-Madison sought to “uncover and reverse gender bias in biology,” which has led to the creation of a post-doctorate in “feminist biology.”
“The program is the first in the nation — and probably the world,” said Janet Hyde, director of the campus Center for Research on Gender & Women, on the university’s website. Dr. Hyde is a professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies who received her Ph.D. in 1972 from the University of California-Berkeley.
“All human beings have gender stereotypes in their brain,” Dr. Hyde told Campus Reform on Thursday. “Gender stereotypes are pervasive … people just don’t see things or don’t appreciate them or don’t process them when they don’t conform to stereotype notions.”
The first post-doctoral fellow, Caroline VanSickle, also responded to Campus Reform’s inquiries about the program, saying via email: “We aren’t doing science well if we ignore the ideas and research of people who aren’t male, white, straight, or rich. […] Feminist science seeks to improve our understanding of the world by including people with different viewpoints. A more inclusive science means an opportunity to make new discoveries.”
The university’s program in feminist biology begins in September.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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