Women and botany

The history of women and botany is also an evolutionary history of how gender affects the development of science. Since the 1860s, botany has been regarded as a science "suitable for women" and one of the ways to cultivate girls' femininity by the upper middle class of society. It was highly respected under the mainstream gender ideology at that time. Under the influence of western culture, women are considered to be connected with nature (which can be reflected in many Madonna portraits), so women are also associated with botany.

In the 18, 19th centuries, British women were the most active natural explorers. Their exploration of natural things and their enthusiasm for Botany culture were far more than in any previous era.

The connection between women and plants shaped the way they entered botany, and also affected how botany developed into a discipline in Britain and its universities and research institutions in the 19th century.

It is different from leisure, public and ornamental botany activities, which is exactly considered to be women's botany practice. Many teachers try to create a set of "modern" courses for Botany students to cultivate the professional botanists he identifies with. "The masculinity of science" has become an important research topic in the field of the history of science.

Many scholars are conducting their interdisciplinary research on botany and gender learning, such as the botany and feminism book " Cultivating Women,Cultivating Science" and the famous female plant scientist Agnes I bison.

There is a book recommended for everyone who is interesting at in botany as well as gender study: "Cultivating Women,Cultivating Science"

by Ann B.Shteir

It is a classic work on science and women in British natural history culture from 1760 to 1860, which has influenced a large number of scholars in related fields after its publication. The author focuses on the important but neglected marginal groups in the history of natural history and science, and reproduces how female botanists give consideration to academic ideals and balance family life under the background of the era when gender ideology seriously restricts individual development.