Gender profoundly influences scientific activity and the professional lives of women. What are the underlying factors that cause gender gap in institutions of science in India? Has the scenario improved or have new factors of discrimination increased the divide? Women and Science in India examines the scientific, engineering, and medical professions in India from these perspectives. Divided into two broad sections, this reader explores the history, epistemology, as well as quantitative and qualitative aspects of the position and careers of women in sciences. The first section investigates the historical background while the second provides the contemporary context and sociological explanations and deals with the economic parameters that determine the status of women in scientific professions. The essays probe the challenges faced by women in science and the impact of globalization on their careers. The first three essays, trace the historical linkages and explore the discourses and institutions that have shaped the lives of women in colonial times. The volume also analyses the applicability of western theories of gendered sciences and feminism for women in India. The connections between their work lives, the demands of their profession, and domestic responsibilities are examined to unravel the influence of these factors on women’s scientific productivity and research. Participation of women in education and labour markets of science and technology as well as statistical analyses of their scientific careers are the other significant areas discussed. In her introduction, Neelam Kumar locates these essays in the emerging field of the study of the professions of women in science. This interdisciplinary volume will be an important resource for scholars, teachers, and students of history, sociology, psychology, science, and gender studies.
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