pseudoscience & gender

Imagine a world where scientific theories were used not to enlighten and empower, but to marginalize and discriminate against minorities. Throughout history, women, particularly those of color, have been subjected to the oppressive effects of pseudoscience, and though thoroughly disproven and disregarded, its effects continue to reverberate throughout modern society. The lasting implications of pseudoscientific beliefs have perpetuated harmful stereotypes, enforced social hierarchies, and denied women fundamental rights in the modern day. Pseudoscientific theories, masquerading as accepted scientific truth, have been wielded as weapons against women in the past – yet this form of prejudice has had invisible implications decades later. Societal pressures on mental health, hormonal influences, pregnancy symptoms, and other factors that play into biological differences were dismissed (even these differences have been statistically shown to be to an insignificant degree, not absolute, and are rather contributed to more so by societal role expectations), and the mere sex of an individual was seen as the defining factor in psychological behavior variance. The concept was twisted and utilized to validate fallacies of inherent intellectual inferiority and heavily exaggerated in order to oppress women. It was these false concepts that resulted in brutal physical procedures and practices rooted in unsound principles, the implementation of eugenics to sterilize marginalized women of color to control a population’s genetic pools, and a long-standing tradition of subconsciously perpetuating harmful stereotypes through physical depictions of female villains with non-Eurocentric features. By exploiting and amplifying perceived biological differences, these theories have fueled a legacy of inequality in the contemporary world. However, shedding sufficient light on these injustices masked once as science can help comprehend how it has had lasting implications on gender and race inequality for women, and motivate our strive for a future where real scientific progress and social justice replaces the recognized legacy of discriminatory pseudoscience.

Historically, pseudoscience has been a catalyst of sex discrimination through societal pressures and ignorance surrounding hormones, neurochemistry, and pregnancy symptoms biologically, and resulted in a herstory of America marred by misogynistic and violent practices such as lobotomizing and electric therapy to treat “hysteria”. For an impactful period of time, these ideas had dismissed the true biological realities of sex and gender, leading to the aforementioned marginalization of these women of the past (and present). An article by Wired delves into the historical context of sexist pseudoscience rooted in biology, emphasizing its impact on perpetuating gender inequality - these flawed and outdated concepts have been used to justify societal hierarchies and deny women fundamental rights. From the false notion of inherent intellectual inferiority to the distorted interpretations of psychological behavior variance based solely on sex, these pseudoscientific theories have been employed to validate fallacies, leading to the oppression of women. Specific pseudoscientific theories, such as phrenology and cranial measurements, were used to support discriminatory beliefs about women's intellectual abilities, for example. While disproven today, false contrasts in intellectual capacities are still utilized as justification for gender inequality. Moreover, the consequences of such discriminatory pseudoscience extend beyond this. Through the oversimplification of complex biological processes, we today must emphasize the need for a more nuanced understanding of sex and gender for transgender and non-binary individuals. The misuse of pseudoscience to enforce discrimination and inequality has also been thoroughly documented in the past few decades. The publication "Biology and Destiny" examines how biological determinism has been used to reinforce traditional gender roles, and instead advocates for social and economic factors as key determinants of gender roles instead. Society has long relied on traditional expectations to enforce a rigid binary understanding of gender, ignoring the vast diversity and fluidity of human experiences. Pseudoscientific theories have not only reinforced these gender norms but also used them to justify the subordination of women. The article from Current Affairs explores the debunking of sexist pseudoscience and highlights how it has influenced societal attitudes towards women's capabilities and roles – especially in account of the emotional instability narrative that is too often shared in our society. Extending the very same idea, the book "Sexing the Brain: The Science and Pseudoscience of Sex Differences" delves into the complexities of the pseudoscientific claims about sex differences in the brain. It exposes the origins of such flawed methodologies and biases that have led to the perpetuation of gender stereotypes and the marginalization of women. Through outdated studies which featured limitations of small sample sizes, methodological biases, and exaggerated interpretations, misleading conclusions about inherent cognitive differences between sexes were born. This is further supported through information from a scholarly JSTOR article, claiming that the need for rigorous and critical evaluation of scientific studies was ignored, resulting in the perpetuation of false and discriminatory beliefs about inherent cognitive disparities between sexes by methodological biases, small sample sizes, selective reporting, and subjective interpretations. All of these had led to the exaggerated claims of sex-based cognitive disparities. Furthermore, the article challenges the notion of "essentialist" views of sex differences, which claims that any existing differences are rigid and innate. It argues that the complex interplay of biological, social, and environmental factors makes it challenging to isolate the exact contributions of biology to cognitive variations between sexes. It advocates for a more nuanced and evidence-based understanding of sex differences that acknowledges the complexity of human cognition. The impact of pseudoscientific beliefs on women's representation and opportunities in science and academia is also explored in the article from the Journal of Applied Communication Research. It sheds light on the biases and stereotypes that have hindered women's advancement in scientific fields today that show how those historical beliefs have resulted in a significant aftermath – women today are often faced will underrepresentation attributed to a subconsciously assumed innate intellectual differences rather than the systemic barriers and societal biases in STEM fields itself. According to the article "The Science on Women and Science" by the American Enterprise Institute, these highlighted pseudoscientific beliefs, such as the notion of women supposed innate lack of aptitude for scientific pursuits, have contributed to the persistent gender gap in STEM fields. The harmful concept of biological determinism, which asserts that gender roles and characteristics are fixed and biologically predetermined, has been thoroughly debunked, however, it continues to shape societal attitudes and hinder progress towards gender equality. By examining these sources, we can see that pseudoscientific beliefs surrounding gender have been used to perpetuate discrimination against women. They have reinforced harmful stereotypes, limited opportunities for women's advancement, and contributed to systemic gender inequality.

Historically, pseudoscience has also exacerbated the intersectional discrimination for women of color through practices such as sterilization through eugenics for “racial inferiority” and by representing female villains with largely ethnic physiognomy. The practice of eugenics, fueled by pseudoscientific beliefs in racial superiority and inferiority, has had devastating consequences for women of color. The research paper titled "Eugenics and Scientific Racism" published by the National Human Genome Research Institute provides a comprehensive understanding of how eugenics were used to justify forced sterilization of marginalized communities. This dehumanizing practice perpetuated deep-seated discrimination against women of color, who were specifically targeted based on false notions of "racial inferiority" and subjected to sterilization procedures without their consent or knowledge. The aim of these inhumane processes was to control their reproductive abilities and manipulate the genetic composition of populations for “purity”, perpetuating a deeply discriminatory agenda. According to the United Nations' article, the eugenics movement in America was based on biased interpretations of genetic traits and intelligence, and a provided fact sheet addressed examples of unethical experiments conducted under the guise of eugenics. For example, there was the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which targeted African Americans and denied them proper treatment for the disease, yet the series of events occurred through a false legitimization through science of racial inferiority. The article interacts with the issue furthermore by exploring the existing racial differences in medical treatment and sciences that serve as a result of the past. Pseudoscientific ideas about racial disparities in pain perception and medical outcomes have led to biased and unequal treatment of women of color, calling for a shift towards acknowledgement in the complexity of health disparities and deep-rooted systemic biases. Pseudoscientific theories were manipulated to reinforce the belief in the inherent superiority of certain racial groups, which, in turn, facilitated the dehumanization and mistreatment of women of color. Today, pseudoscientific ideas have also infiltrated medical research and healthcare, impacting women's well-being and treatment. The New York Times article explores the racial biases in medical research, highlighting how pseudoscientific notions of racial differences have influenced medical diagnoses and treatment recommendations – these biases have disproportionately affected women of color by potentially resulting in disparities in healthcare access and quality. Moreover, the Washington Post article on enduring phony science perpetuating white supremacy underscores the role of pseudoscience in the portrayal of female villains with largely ethnic physiognomy. Such representations not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also reinforce the marginalization and otherization of women of color. These depictions contribute to the broader societal narrative that portrays women of color as dangerous or exotic "others", further marginalizing them and reinforcing discriminatory beliefs. By deeming non-Eurocentric features as negative or villainous, these pseudoscientific beliefs contributed to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and deepened the intersectional discrimination experienced by women of color. It is imperative to dismantle the pseudoscientific foundations of race and gender discrimination, challenge harmful stereotypes, and work towards creating an inclusive society that embraces the diverse experiences and contributions of all women, irrespective of their race or ethnicity.

Women of color faced multiple forms of discrimination as their identities intersected with both gender and race, and the intersectional discrimination experienced by the demographic cannot be separated from the historical legacy of pseudoscientific beliefs. Addressing the impact of pseudoscientific discrimination on women of color requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses education, awareness, and policy change. First, it is essential to prioritize education that promotes critical thinking and scientific literacy through programs such as WOC in STEM. By equipping individuals with the tools to question and challenge pseudoscientific claims, we can foster a society that values evidence-based reasoning and rejects discriminatory ideologies, precisely underscoring the further harm in placing subconscious constraints against women in scientific fields. Policy changes are also essential in dismantling the systemic barriers that perpetuate intersectional discrimination. This includes advocating for laws and regulations that protect against reproductive coercion and forced sterilization, ensuring access to comprehensive healthcare, and promoting diversity and inclusion in scientific research and academia. Additionally, initiatives that challenge harmful stereotypes and promote representation of women of color in media, literature, and other forms of cultural expression can contribute to combating pseudoscientific biases. In conclusion, pseudoscientific beliefs have perpetuated discrimination against women of color, both through the lens of gender and race. The historical practices of eugenics, the misrepresentation of racial features, and the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes have had lasting impacts on the lives of women of color. Through both recognizing and understanding the historical context and contemporary implications of pseudoscience based or influenced discrimination, we can actively work towards dismantling this tangled web of oppressive systems.