The Science Education of American Girls: A Historical Perspective

Rating:
Summary: A Must-Read Book
Review: This well-written book offers primary source material that has radically altered this reviewer's thinking regarding women and science. Tolley demonstrates that science was indeed a "girls' subject," dispelling the common notion that it has always been exclusively within the male domain. The unexpected finding that proportionally more girls than boys studied science in early American academies is well substantiated. Thoroughly researched, this engaging volume concludes that, although the decline of science as a girls' subject in school was, in part, a result of discrimination, the decline of women's interest in science was also an unanticipated result of purposeful efforts to elevate the status of female education in the 19th century. Making use of vignettes, quantitative data, and illusrations, this richly written book traces the complex series of events that led to the domination of males in school science by the 20th century. A must-read for every scholar with interests in gender, issues of equity, history of education, and science education. Practitioners in science will also find this treatment of women and science education insightful. Summing up: Highly recommended. All university libraries; upper-division undergraduates and above. Copyright 2003 American Library Association