From Girls in Their Elements to Women in Science : Rethinking Socialization Through Memory Work

Although they are making gains, by the time they reach high school, girls lag behind boys in math and science; women are still discouraged from going into professional science, and some from actively participating in nature. From Girls in Their Elements to Women in Science asks: How are these generalizations linked to personal experience? Memory-work as research method offers an innovative approach to understanding women's socialization in the natural world, which leads to insights about their relationship to science. Multiple themes emerge from the analysis, which reveals the centrality of family landscapes, metaphor, power, and creativity in connecting our experiences in nature to our professional lives. This book demonstrates how memory-work can interrupt cultural assumptions about socialization, transforming the meaning of our experiences in the natural world.

Judith S. Kaufman is Associate Professor in Curriculum and Teaching at Hofstra University in New York Margaret S. Ewing is Professor of Zoology at Oklahoma State University Diane M. Montgomery is Professor of Education Psychology and Special Education at Oklahoma State University Adrienne E. Hyle is Professor in the School of Educational Studies at Oklahoma State University Patricia A. Self is Professor in Family Relations and Child Development at Oklahoma State University