Lives of the Saints of Science: Darwin
Part of my socialization into the world of science and engineering was, of course, the worship of great and important historical figures in the professions who, naturally, just happened to all be white males. This socialization was an informal, even casual, process - passing references in the introductory matter of various textbooks; framed portraits and busts on the walls and in the halls of university buildings dedicated to science and engineering; and the ubiquitous idolatry of a few key figures, e.g.: Galileo, Newton, Mendeleev, Darwin, Einstein. As an acolyte of science, I was more than happy to worship along with everyone else. Growing up Catholic, saints were an impor

All I Want For Christmas Is A Pair Of Swim Shorts
It's that time of year again - the time when I begin to contemplate swimsuits, and curse under my breath. You see, the last several years, Mr. Z and I have sworn off birthday, anniversary, and Christmas gifts for each other in lieu of saving our cash for a week-long escape to a sunny, sandy locale sometime in December. It's the perfect time to go. The leaves have been wind-torn off the trees and dutifully raked up into a pile for composting. Nothing's left of November but bare branches, gray skies, and the grim march of five weeks of holiday-themed commercials on t.v. and radio. Some of you may feel that there are the holidays themselves to look forward to, and I c

Death of a Bridge
When my mother was a little girl, my grandfather would drive her - almost all the way - to the dentist in Point Marion, PA. They would stop and park on the Greene County side of this bridge, and walk across to save the ten-cent toll on cars. Money was that tight. Mom always said it was bad enough to have to go to the dentist without having to walk across that bridge in the bargain. The bridge is just a few years younger than my

Bra-Burners and Feminist Activists: A Wee Primer
Inquiring minds want to know: what's a feminist activist, and how should she dress? My last post has raised a lot of discussion for people about the nature of feminism and feminists. There are questions about litmus tests and whether Zuska applies them. I thought it best to take a moment or too to assuage some of your curiosity and anxiety, in the form of a series of multiple-choice questions or statements. Alas, there is no answer sheet, except the one provided by your

Eek! Keep Those Scary Bra-Burners Away From My Sexy Feminine Self!
Subtitle: It's really cool when feminists can help me advance my personal interests, as long as nobody sees me talking to them, 'cause, you know, they're ugly. Over at Isis's place, Victoria writes that she does not wish to be sexually harassed at scientific conferences, no matter what she is wearing. She does not want to feel responsible for controlling men's poor behavior through her sartorial choices. Zuska is on board with that. Victoria also writes that she wants "to maintain the feeling of being a sexy, feminine woman without sacrificing the science".