ABSTRACT
Since the late 1970s feminist historians, philosophers of science, and feminist scientists have pointed out areas of gender bias in science, particularly biology. Once the possibility for androcentric bias was discovered, feminist scholars set out to explore the extent to which it had distorted science. In contrast to a low priority on women's health, significant amounts of time and money are expended on clinical research on women's bodies, particularly in connection with reproduction. Feminists have criticized the conversion of a normal, natural reproductive process that historically was controlled by women into a clinical, and often surgical, procedure controlled by men. Perhaps more women in decisionmaking regarding the design and funding of clinical research would result in more interdisciplinary research to study issues of women's health care. They have focused on new reproductive technologies such as amniocentesis, in vitro fertilization, and artificial insemination as scientific and medical means are sought to overcome infertility.
