Politics in the Scientific Classification of Human Bodies A Presentation by: Katheryn Wright Edited By: Dr. Picart Associate Professor of English Courtesy Associate Professor of Law

Aims Understand how Foucault’s notion of “political anatomy” serves as a framework for Schiebinger’s analysis Understand how Foucault’s notion of “political anatomy” serves as a framework for Schiebinger’s analysis Discuss specific ways humankind was to be divided Discuss specific ways humankind was to be divided Articulate the difference between environmentalism and biological determinism, making sure to understand basic assumptions about nature Articulate the difference between environmentalism and biological determinism, making sure to understand basic assumptions about nature

Aims (2) Realize the conflict between scientific sexism and scientific racism, both of which serve as reaction to the Revolution’s claim for ‘natural’ rights Realize the conflict between scientific sexism and scientific racism, both of which serve as reaction to the Revolution’s claim for ‘natural’ rights Articulate the difference between “the doctrine of the great chain of being” and “the doctrine of sexual complementarity” Articulate the difference between “the doctrine of the great chain of being” and “the doctrine of sexual complementarity” Understand the “body politic,” or how the body is infused with power Understand the “body politic,” or how the body is infused with power Discuss how the practitioners of science affect science’s outcome Discuss how the practitioners of science affect science’s outcome

“Political Anatomy” Schiebinger writes that “political anatomy” is when “the body-stripped clean of history and culture as it was of clothes and often skin- became the touchstone of political rights and social privileges” (116). Schiebinger writes that “political anatomy” is when “the body-stripped clean of history and culture as it was of clothes and often skin- became the touchstone of political rights and social privileges” (116). What does this mean? What does this mean?

“Political Anatomy” (4) How do naturalists strip the body of history? How do naturalists strip the body of history?

How was humankind to be divided? In regards to what we just reviewed about Foucault, why was this question about the division of humankind important? What is to be gained from classification and an emphasis on difference? In regards to what we just reviewed about Foucault, why was this question about the division of humankind important? What is to be gained from classification and an emphasis on difference? Samuel Thomas von Soemmerring thought that skeletons should be classified according to age, sex, nationality (race), nourishment, susceptibility to illness, life-style and clothing (117). Samuel Thomas von Soemmerring thought that skeletons should be classified according to age, sex, nationality (race), nourishment, susceptibility to illness, life-style and clothing (117). Which of these became the most popular? Which of these became the most popular?

How was humankind to be divided? (3) How did sex influence studies on race? How did sex influence studies on race?

Environmentalism vs. Biological Determinism (2) Schiebinger claims that the debate between environmentalists and biological determinists “centered around the question of woman’s agency” (141). How? Schiebinger claims that the debate between environmentalists and biological determinists “centered around the question of woman’s agency” (141). How? What larger debate (culminating in 1789) centered on human agency? What larger debate (culminating in 1789) centered on human agency?

Declaration of the Rights of Man Are the liberties it proclaims universal? Are the liberties it proclaims universal?

Declaration of the Rights of Man (2) Which set of arguments (either environmentalism or biological determinism) can counter the appeal of ‘natural rights?’ Which set of arguments (either environmentalism or biological determinism) can counter the appeal of ‘natural rights?’

Scientific Racism and Sexism (2) GROUP DISCUSSION: GROUP DISCUSSION: –Bringing it briefly into a contemporary context, where does scientific racism and sexism still exist? –Do these debates form in the realm of science or through politics? –To what extent do politics influence scientific inquiries? Does this challenge or reinforce Kuhn’s notion of ‘paradigm?’

The Doctrine of Sexual Complementarity Where were women on the chain? Akin to Africans? What about African women? Where were women on the chain? Akin to Africans? What about African women?

Works Cited Foucault, Michel. “Docile Bodies.” In Foucault Reader. Ed. Paul Rabinow (New York: Pantheon Books, 1984) Foucault, Michel. “Docile Bodies.” In Foucault Reader. Ed. Paul Rabinow (New York: Pantheon Books, 1984) Hooks, bell. “The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators.” Feminism and Tradition in Aesthetics. Eds. Peggy Zeglin Brand and Carolyn Korsmeyer (State College, Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press, 1995) Hooks, bell. “The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators.” Feminism and Tradition in Aesthetics. Eds. Peggy Zeglin Brand and Carolyn Korsmeyer (State College, Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press, 1995) Kubrick, Stanley, dir. Clockwork Orange. Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Adrienne Corri (Warner Bros., 1971). Kubrick, Stanley, dir. Clockwork Orange. Malcolm McDowell, Patrick Magee, Adrienne Corri (Warner Bros., 1971). Picart, Caroline. The Darwinian Shift: Kuhn vs. Laudan (Acton Massachusetts: Copley, 1997). Picart, Caroline. The Darwinian Shift: Kuhn vs. Laudan (Acton Massachusetts: Copley, 1997). Schiebinger, Londa. Nature’s Body: Gender in the Making of Modern Science (Boston: Beacon Press, 1993) Schiebinger, Londa. Nature’s Body: Gender in the Making of Modern Science (Boston: Beacon Press, 1993)