Sustaining socially just and accurate life sciences teaching for sex, gender, and reproduction?
Abstract For decades experts have called for improving equity in science education regarding sex, gender, and reproduction, with little large‐scale change. To identify potential approaches to change, we convened an interdisciplinary group of biologists, education researchers, and gender and science studies scholars. Our conversations revealed a fundamental need to work across multiple scales, including change within life science classes and simultaneously at larger culture and systems scales in the life sciences and society as a whole. We used the multiple‐loop learning framework to explore solutions across scales: Single‐loop learning is change within existing structures, such as addressing terminology used in teaching; double‐loop learning engages with why a problem exists, such as incorporating the history and philosophy of science into life sciences education; triple‐loop learning questions underlying assumptions, such as shifting life science's culture and norms to value interdisciplinarity; and quadruple‐loop learning involves societal‐level changes, such as working across communities and social change. We argue that cultural changes in the values and norms in the life sciences, educational institutions, and society more broadly are essential for lasting transformation.
Authors
- Ash T. Zemenick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9889-5532)
- J. Kasi Jackson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1979-1426)
- Linda Fuselier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0920-5988)
- Sarah L. Eddy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0902-4570)
- Kimberly D. Tanner
- A. Kelly Lane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6446-0303)
- Anne Marie Casper (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6557-4425)
- A.G. Lewis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5091-8827)
- Stacey A. Ritz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6192-182X)
- Sheron L. Mark (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8490-9961)
- Rhea R. Datta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2382-8930)
- Karen M. Warkentin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7804-800X)
- Sara Giordano
- Susan Jarosi
- Adriana M. Garriga‐Lopez
Institutions
- Boston University (US)
- West Virginia University (US)
- University of Louisville (US)
- Kennesaw State University (US)
- Hamilton College (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Twin Cities Public Television (US)
- Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (US)
- Gender Studies (CZ)
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
- Florida Atlantic University (US)
- San Francisco State University (US)
- Colorado State University (US)
- McMaster University (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Natural sciences education
- Published
- 2025-06-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.70020
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Sex and Gender in Healthcare
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.64
Funders
- National Science Foundation