Lynda Birke

Lynda Birke was born in London in 1948. She went to the University of Sussex, where she studied Biological Sciences. She subsequently did a master's by research (also at Sussex) in Animal Behaviour, before teaching science in London high schools for two years. She then returned to research and did a doctorate in animal behaviour, again at Sussex (1977). During that time, she was actively involved in the women's liberation movement, and cofounded the Brighton Women and Science Group. After that, she went to the Open University, where she was a Research Fellow in biology until 1987. She also worked on the University's Changing Experience of Women course. That was followed by a couple of years doing freelance science journalism and teaching. In 1990, she went to Warwick University, where she taught women's studies as well as courses in biology. She was Senior Lecturer in the Centre for the Study of Women and Gender when she left there in 1997. She is now based in the Institute for Women's Studies at the University of Lancaster.

Major Themes

1. Most of Lynda Birke's scientific research focused on hormones and animal behaviour, and the ways in which young mammals develop. This included a critique of the widespread assumptions of hormonal determinism of animal behaviour.

2. Birke's work on feminist science studies has spanned a number of themes, but particularly on topics in and around biology. Like other feminist biologists, she has necessarily had to write lengthy critiques of biological determinism.

3. A major theme of some of her recent work has been to explore links between feminist science critiques and our understanding of nonhuman animals.

Bibliography

BOOKS

Biology, Bodies and Feminism. Edinburgh University Press, 1999.

Common Science? Women, Science and Knowledge. Co-authored with J. Barr. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1998.

Reinventing Biology: Respect for Life and the Creation of Knowledge. Co-authored with Ruth Hubbard. Indiana University Press, 1995.

Feminism, Animals and Science: the Naming of the Shrew. Buckingham: Open University Press, 1994.

Tomorrow's Child: Reproductive Technologies in the 90s. Co-authored with S. Himmelweit and G. Vines. London: Virago, 1990. Spanish translation: El Nino del Manana:Tecnologias Reproductoras en los Anos 90. Barcelona: Edicion Porredes Corredor, 1992.

Women, Feminism and Biology: The Feminist Challenge. Wheatsheaf, 1986.

EDITED BOOKS

Reinventing Biology: Respect for Life and the Creation of Knowledge. Co-authored with Ruth Hubbard. Indiana University Press, 1995.

More than the Parts: Biology and Politics. Co-authored with Jonathan Silvertown. London: Pluto, 1984.

Against Biological Determinism and Towards a Liberatory Biology Co-authored with Steven Rose, et. al. London: Allison and Busby, 1982.

The Changing Experience of Women. Co-authored with E.Whitelegg, et. al. Martin Robertson/Open University, 1982.

Exploration in Animals and Humans. Co-authored with John Archer. Wokingham: Van Nostrand Rheinhold, 1982.

Alice Through the Microscope: the Power of Science over Women's Lives. London: Virago, 1980.

Why Suffer: Periods and Their Problems. Virago, 1979. Also published in Spanish, as Por que Sufrir? La Regla y sus Problemas. Barcelona, LaSal, Editions de les Dones, 1983.

ARTICLES (since 1990)

"Animals, Becoming," in Animal Others: On Ethics, Ontology and Animal Life. Ed. P.Steeves. Coathored with L. Parisi. SUNY Press, 1999.

Various entries to Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories. Ed. L.Code. Routledge, 1999.

"Ecofeminism." Entry for Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare. Co-authored with L.Gruen. Ed. by M.Bekoff and C A. Meaney. Greenwood Press,1998, pp. 48-49.

"Seeking Knowledge: Muslim Women and Their Perceptions of Science." Coauthored with R. Whitworth. Women's Studies International Forum Vol. 21 (1998): 147-159.

"The heart of the Matter: Animal Bodies, Ethics and Species Boundaries." Coauthored with Michael, M. Society and Animals Vol. 6 (1998): 245-262.

"Biological Sciences," in Companion to Feminist Philosophy. Ed. by A. Jaggar and I.Young. Blackwell, 1998, pp. 194-204.

"The Broken heart," in Vital Signs. Ed. by M. Shildrick and J. Price. Edinburgh University Press, 1998, pp.197-224.

"Hybrids, Rights and Their Proliferation." Co-authored with Michael, M. Animal Issues Vol. 2 (1998): 1-20.

"Women, Science and Adult Education - Towards a Feminist Curriculum." Co-authored with Barr, J. in Science and the Construction of Women. Ed. by M. Maynard. UCL Press, 1997.

"Science and Animals- Or, Why Cyril Won't Win the Nobel Prize." Animal Issues Vol. 1 (1997): 45-55.

"Enviromental Challenge." Coauthored with Wemelsfelder, F. in Animal Welfare. Ed. by M. Appleby and B. Hughes. Wallingford CABI,1997.

"The Black Hole? Women's Studies, Science and Technology." Co-authored with Henry, M. in Introducing Women's Studies. Ed. by D. Richardson and V. Robinson. Macmillan, 1997.

"Born Queer? Lesbians Interrogate Biology," in Straight Studies Modified. Ed. by S. Andermahr and G. Griffin. Cassell 1997.

"Reporting animal use in scientific papers," Co-authored with Smith, J., and Sadler, D. in Laboratory Animals.1997, pp. 312-317.

"Animals and Biological Determinism," in Feminism and Sexuality: A Reader. Ed. by S. Jackson. Open University, 1996.

"Animal Experiments and Ethical Debate." Co-authored with Michael, M. Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy Vol. 11 (1996): 35-38.

"On keeping a respectful distance.," in Reinventing Biology. Ed. by L. Birke and R. Hubbard. Indiana University Press, 1995, pp. 75-88.

"Raising the profile of welfare: scientists and their use of animals." Co-authored with Michael, M. Anthrozoos Vol. 8 (1995): 90-99.

"Animal Experiments: Scientific Uncertainty and Public Unease." Co-authored with Michael, M. Science as Culture Vol. 5 (1995): 248-276

"Feminism, science and animals.," in Women and Animals. Ed. by C. Adams and S. Kappeler. Duke University Press,1995

"Animals in Experimental Reports: the Rhetoric of Science." Co-authored with Smith, J. Society and AnimalsVol. 3 (1995).

"Women, science and adult Education: Towards a feminist Curriculum?" Co-authored with Barr, J. Scottish Gender and Education Research Network, Conference Proceedings.1994, pp. 35-40

"Unzipping the genes." Perversions Vol. 1 (1994).

"Science and morality in animal experiments: demarcating the core set." Co-authored with Michael, M. Social Studies of Science Vol. 24 (1994): 81-95.

"Interventions in hostile territory," in Stirring It: Uniting Theory and Practice. Ed. by G. Griffin and S. Rai. Falmer Press, 1994.

"Women, Science and Adult Education: Towards a Feminist Curriculum?" Co-authored with Barr, J. Women's Studies International Forum1994, pp. 473-483

"Accounting for animal experiments: identity and disreputable 'others'." Co-authored with Michael,M. Science, technology and human values Vol. 19 (1994): 189-204.

"The meanings of meat." Society and Animals Vol. 1 (1993): 191-207.

"Nazi ideologies and the boundaries of being human." Anthrozoos Vol. 6 (1993): 72-75.

"Bringing science to women?" Co-authored with Dunlop, C. Adults Learning (March 1993).

"Detecting genetic diseases: prenatal screening and its problems." Co-authored with S.Himmelweit and G.Vines. in Inventing Women. Ed. G. Kirkup and L. Keller. Open Polity/Open University, 1992, pp. 145-161.

"In pursuit of difference: scientific studies of women and men," in Inventing Women: Science, Technology and Gender. Ed. by G. Kirkup and L.S. Keller. Polity/Open University, 1992, pp. 81-102.

"Transforming biology.," in Knowing Women: Feminism and Knowledge. Ed. by H. Crowley and S. Himmelweit. Polity/Open University, 1992, pp. 66-77.

"Inside science for women: common sense or science?" J. Further and Higher Education Vol. 16 (1992): 18-30.

"Life as we have known it: feminism and the biology of gender," in Science and Sensibility. Ed. by M. Benjamin. Blackwell, 1991, pp. 243-263.

"Science, feminism and animal natures: I: extending the boundaries." Women's Studies International Forum Vol. 14 (1991): 443-449.

"Science, feminism and animal natures: II: feminist critiques and the place of animals in science." Women's Studies International Forum Vol. 14 (1991): 451-458.

"Geschlundt und Sexualitat." Zeitschrift fur Sexualforschung Vol. 4 (1991): 109-118.

"Maternal discrimination and the development of sex differences in exploratory behaviour of Spiny Mice Acomys cahirinus." Co-authored with and Sadler, D. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Vol. 43B (1991): 403-430.

"Adult education and the public understanding of science." J. Further & Higher Education Vol. 15 (1990): 15-23.