Sandra Hanson

Swimming Against the Tide: Race, Gender, and Science in a Global Era

Abstract:
“They looked at us like we were not supposed to be scientists” says one young African American girl describing one openly hostile reaction she encountered in the science classroom. This research considers issues of gender, race, diversity, and science. Findings show that many young minority girls are interested in science but the racism and sexism in the science classroom often discourage them. Experiences of African American girls in science education are examined using multiple methods of quantitative and qualitative research including a web survey and vignette techniques. The multicultural framework addresses the role of agency and resistance that encourages and sustains interest in science in African American families and communities. Recommendations for science policy and programs in an age of globalization are provided.

Biographical Note:
Sandra L. Hanson is a visiting Fulbright scholar from Catholic University in Washington, DC. Dr. Hanson’s research examines the gender structure of educational and occupational systems in a comparative context. Her recent book entitled Swimming Against the Tide: African American Girls in Science Education considers the experiences of African American girls in the science education system. Dr. Hanson's earlier book Lost Talent: Women in the Sciences was a culmination of her research on the loss of talented young women in the science pipeline. She has testified to the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Girls and Science on the critical need for developing all science talent.