Charge of the Women's Caucus
The Women's Caucus of the History of Science focuses on the role and status of women in the profession. The Caucus also serves as a forum for those interested in the history of women, as well as the wider role of gender in science, medicine, and technology.
The Annual business meeting of the Caucus is scheduled each year at the annual meeting of the History of Science Society. Caucus meetings are open to all members of the Society and the Caucus encourages participation of all society members concerned with issues appropriate to the Caucus.
To learn more about the caucus, see the Women’s Caucus page on the History of Science Society website:
http://hssonline.org/about/groups/womens-caucus/.
The Annual business meeting of the Caucus is scheduled each year at the annual meeting of the History of Science Society. Caucus meetings are open to all members of the Society and the Caucus encourages participation of all society members concerned with issues appropriate to the Caucus.
To learn more about the caucus, see the Women’s Caucus page on the History of Science Society website:
http://hssonline.org/about/groups/womens-caucus/.
History of the Women's Caucus
In 1982, the joint efforts of several members of the Women’s Committee of the History of Science and Technology (before the founding of the Women’s Caucus) -- Sally Gregory Kohlstedt, Kathryn Olesko, Helena Pycior, Margaret Rossiter, and Edith Dudley Sylla -- produced a report entitled, “Women in the History of Science, 1973 to 1981.” [Available as a .pdf] The report includes a brief history of the group, originally founded in 1972 as a “Committee on Women.” In 1982, HSS rearranged the structure of committees and the “Committee on Women” became connected with a new Committee on Research in the Profession.
The Society’s prize for the best article or book on women or gender in the history of science (given since 1987) was fully endowed largely due to the efforts of the HSS Women’s Caucus. In 2004, the prize was named after pioneering historian of science, Margaret W. Rossiter.
Past Minutes of the Women’s Caucus Meetings are available HERE.
The Society’s prize for the best article or book on women or gender in the history of science (given since 1987) was fully endowed largely due to the efforts of the HSS Women’s Caucus. In 2004, the prize was named after pioneering historian of science, Margaret W. Rossiter.
Past Minutes of the Women’s Caucus Meetings are available HERE.
The Status of Women in the Historical Discipline
From 1974 to 2009, the Women’s Caucus also conducted an annual employment survey, the results of which are available here. Recently, HSS has turned over the responsibility for gathering data on available positions and hiring decisions to the American Historical Association, which conducts its own annual survey. AHA’s data on the historical profession are available here. The following articles may also be of interest:
- Robert B. Townsend, The Status of Women and Minorities in the Historical Profession (September 5, 2008)
- Robert B. Townsend, What the Data Reveal about Women Historians (April 22, 2010)
- Robert B. Townsend, The Status of Women and Minorities in the Historical Profession (September 5, 2008)
- Robert B. Townsend, What the Data Reveal about Women Historians (April 22, 2010)
To subscribe to the HSS Women's Caucus listserv, go to https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/hss-women.
