Abstract
The current curriculum in STEM is a product of historically unequal representation of genders in the science community. As a result, most attention has been given to male biology, creating a knowledge gap that has affected our social and political perspectives, such as an underinvestment in women’s health research. Feminist biology seeks to provide equal time and weight to the impact of sex as a biological factor, using inclusive definitions of biological sex that go beyond the male/female binary. Feminist pedagogy is a method of teaching that involves engaged learning and reflection in order to create a community of learners who embrace inclusivity and distribute power evenly among all student identities. Incorporating feminist biology using the tools of feminist pedagogy into the Biology curriculum has the potential to make the unequal share of voices among genders more visible to students and increase the feeling of belonging for women and other gender minorities in STEM. A more balanced distribution of power among all genders in the scientific pursuit is likely to fill in existing knowledge gaps in non-male biology. This paper will 1) address the importance of feminist pedagogy in STEM in general and in Biology in particular, 2) provide specific ways in which feminist pedagogy and feminist biology can be implemented in the Biology classroom.
Recommended Citation
Danos, Nicole; Bonilla, Carla Y.; and Leung, Sofia
(2023)
"Feminist Biology: Towards Gender Equity in the Biology Curriculum,"
Feminist Pedagogy: Vol. 4:
Iss.
2, Article 5.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/feministpedagogy/vol4/iss2/5