| Description |
1 online resource (ix, 248 pages) : illustrations |
| Contents |
Misperceiving merit, excellence, and devotion in academic STEM -- The cultural construction of merit in academic STEM -- The work devotion schema and its consequences -- Mismeasuring merit : the schema of scientific excellence as a yardstick of merit -- Defending the schema of scientific excellence, defending inequality -- The moralization of merit : consequences for scientists and science |
| Summary |
"In Misconceiving Merit, sociologists Mary Blair-Loy and Erin A. Cech uncover the cultural foundations of a paradox. On one hand, academic science, engineering, and math revere meritocracy, a system that recognizes and rewards those with the greatest talent and dedication. At the same time, women and some racial and sexual minorities remain underrepresented and often feel unwelcome and devalued in STEM. How can academic science, which so highly values meritocracy and objectivity, produce these unequal outcomes? Blair-Loy and Cech studied more than five hundred STEM professors at a top research university to reveal how unequal and unfair outcomes can emerge alongside commitments to objectivity and excellence. The authors find that academic STEM harbors dominant cultural beliefs that not only perpetuate the mistreatment of scientists from underrepresented groups but hinder innovation. Underrepresented groups are often seen as less fully embodying merit compared to equally productive white and Asian heterosexual men, and the negative consequences of this misjudgment persist regardless of professors' actual academic productivity. Misconceiving Merit is filled with insights for higher education administrators working toward greater equity as well as for scientists and engineers striving to change entrenched patterns of inequality in STEM"-- Provided by publisher |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index |
| Notes |
Description based on print version record |
| Subject |
Scientists -- Rating of.
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Science -- Social aspects.
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Work-life balance.
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Scientists -- United States -- Attitudes
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Science teachers -- United States -- Attitudes
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College teachers -- United States -- Attitudes.
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Discrimination in higher education.
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EDUCATION / General.
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College teachers -- Attitudes
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Discrimination in higher education
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Science -- Social aspects
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Science teachers -- Attitudes
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Scientists -- Attitudes
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Scientists -- Rating of
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Work-life balance
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Society & culture: general.
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Education.
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Science.
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United States
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| Form |
Electronic book
|
| ISBN |
9780226820149 |
|
0226820149 |
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