Summary Of Gender And The Practice Of Scientific Research By Bonnie Smith

In 1905 the Oxford University Press published Bonnie Smith’s article Gender and the Practice of Scientific Research: The Seminar and Archival Research in the Nineteenth Century in the American Historical Review. Smith’s article is able to demonstrate to the reader what factors led to historical science becoming such a male dominated profession in the nineteenth century. Smith’s article argues, among other things, that the two practices in scientific history, the seminar and archival research, were fundamental as well as influential in the profession as the ideals of truth and objectivity. Smith also argues throughout her article that gender was a fundamental aspect of procedures in scientific history. Smith uses a variety of sources and quotations …show more content…
She explains that seminars captured the imagination of young men because it allowed them to develop historical prowess by allowing the men to exercise their individual judgement on various texts that they would examine. During a time when women were not seen as equal to men from an intellectual standpoint, it is understandable that only the men would be thought of to be able to judge historical texts. The imbalance between genders during this time period helped to contribute to historical science becoming a male dominate …show more content…
Smith’s word choice, argument style and various sources allowed her to write a piece that anyone could understand regardless of their interest and prior knowledge of historical science. For the most part, Smith’s article is able to keep the reader interested while also providing information on the historical background of the seminar and archival