Ruth Hubbard

“It is a myth that science is not political. It is a political activity, it's just that most of the time it is allied with the politics of the status quo.”

“Science in a patriarchal culture is male-dominated, not just in numbers, but in its values, assumptions, and techniques.”

“Motherhood is a political institution, not just a biological fact.”

“The myth of the detached, objective observer is a cornerstone of the ideology of science.”

“What we call 'facts' are socially constructed. That doesn't mean they don't exist, but that their significance and interpretation are shaped by our social context.”

“Genes are not destiny.”

“Every woman is a feminist. The only difference is that some of us know it and some of us don't.”

“The 'woman question' is the 'human question,' or there is no such thing as a 'human question.'”

“The claim to objectivity is a way of hiding the fact that scientists, like everyone else, have biases and points of view.”

“We need a science that is more humble, more self-critical, and more aware of its social responsibilities.”

“Biology has been used to justify social inequalities, from racism to sexism, by presenting them as natural and inevitable.”

“Women's health issues have historically been under-researched and misunderstood because the medical establishment has been dominated by men.”

“The language of science often mystifies and excludes the public, creating an artificial barrier between 'experts' and everyone else.”