Ethos and symbolic violence among women of science

An empirical study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3080950
AutoresAndrea Cerroni (0000-0002-9120-9234, Center MaCSIS, University of Milan-Bicocca), Zenia Simonella (0000-0001-9097-579X, Center MaCSIS, University of Milan-Bicocca)
Año2012
Volumen51
Número2
Páginas165-182
Fecha de publicación2012-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSocial Science Information (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0539-0184 • E-ISSN: 1461-7412
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0539018412437102
OpenAlexW2102507248
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas40

While scientific challenges raise relevant debates about the ethics of science, the scientific ethos, shattered by post-Mertonian studies, has received neither due attention nor further conceptualizations in view of the transition to knowledge society. On the contrary, in our investigation of Italian women scientists, it appears to have survived as a reference for scientists, even if the context has changed. Indeed, the ethos of scientists is no longer conceivable as exclusive, but is instead seen as open and dynamic in interaction with other symbolic references. Therefore, instead of scientific ethos, it is preferable to speak of scientific habit, including the individual symbolic universe and the social practices linked to the scientific role. In so doing, other habits come into focus and interact. In particular, we investigated the interaction between the scientific habit and the gender habit. We argue for a conflict between two such habits and for the existence of a symbolic violence suffered by women scientists. Lastly, a new dimension of the scientific ethos is defined which is not included in the Mertonian definition: a scientific responsibility among scientists in society. Such a picture could shape a new perspective of re-gendering science in society from the standpoint of women's experience as scientists in the knowledge society

Epistemology · Ethos · Habit · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Sociology of scientific knowledge · The Symbolic · Empathy and Medical Education · History · Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration · Law · Management and Organizational Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology