eCite Digital Repository
Women and the Ethos of Philosophy: Shedding Light on Mentoring and Competition
Citation
Poltera, J, Women and the Ethos of Philosophy: Shedding Light on Mentoring and Competition, Hypatia-A Journal of Feminist Philosophy, 26, (2) pp. 419-428. ISSN 0887-5367 (2011) [Letter or Note in Journal]
![]() | PDF Not available 760Kb |
Abstract
The ethos of philosophy is notoriously hostile to women. Highly skilled female
thinkers leak out at all stages of the pipeline, and philosophy remains one of
the most male-dominated disciplines in the humanities.
I have two main aims here. First, I explain why we should not take for granted
that senior women will be supportive mentors to junior women and thereby
plug leaks in the pipeline. More importantly, we should not inadvertently place
the onus on them to do so. Second, I argue that we need to consider the possibility that some women contribute to the hostile ethos. Women are as
susceptible as men to employing gender schemas. It is a mistake
to presuppose that women philosophers are somehow immune from discriminating against other women, competing with them, and deterring them
from entering the field. These facets of the problem form a relatively small but
significant contribution to the hostile ethos that we need to acknowledge in
our efforts to attract and retain women. Accepting this claim does not detract
from the seriousness of longstanding gender discrimination against women,
or from a widespread lack of recognition by men of women's needs and
accomplishments in philosophy.
Item Details
Item Type: | Letter or Note in Journal |
---|---|
Keywords: | women, ethos, philosphy |
Research Division: | Indigenous Studies |
Research Group: | Other Indigenous studies |
Research Field: | Other Indigenous studies not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Culture and Society |
Objective Group: | Other culture and society |
Objective Field: | Other culture and society not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Poltera, J (Dr Jacqui Poltera) |
ID Code: | 119381 |
Year Published: | 2011 |
Deposited By: | School of Humanities |
Deposited On: | 2017-07-31 |
Last Modified: | 2017-07-31 |
Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page