Running Head: Women and Science

Women and Science:

Genre Analysis of an Online Discussion Video and a Web Based Article
Daniela Ortega
University of Texas at El Paso
Dr. Nugent
English 1302: Rhetoric & Composition

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Women and Science: Genre Analysis of an Online Discussion Video and a Web Based
Article
Women have made important contributions to science since ancient times. Women started
to get involved in the field of medicine in a number of early civilizations. The earliest female
scientist recorded was an ancient Egyptian named Merit-Ptah. She was described in an
inscription as a chief physician. After Merit-Ptah there has been other women scientists who
have been recorded. For example Agamede, cited by Homer, was a woman healer in ancient
Greece before the Trojan War and Agnodike, the first legal female physician. The first two
perfumeresses named Tapputi-Belatekallim and ninu can be considered the first chemists
because they were able to get the fragrances from plants by using different types of procedures.
Quite a of women have been recorded that have made significant contributions to alchemy which
is to perfect certain objects. Mary the Jewess is acknowledged for creating multiple chemical
instruments.
Although women have had several accomplishments through out science history, they
have also had many obstacles theyve faced. Somewhere along the history timeline gender roles
were placed. Men were out working and women had to stay home taking care of their children
and homes. Even in present time, there is still a small amount of women who are involved in the
science filed. However, most companies want to hire and keep eligible women. Universities and
industries have made it their goal to attract more women to the science field. They have
addressed this issue by using two forms of genres in order to increase women involvement with
science careers. On a Minnesota State College and University website, Women in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), it states plenty of information as to why women
should take STEM career paths. It also provides information on the challenges women might

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have if they do decide to take that route. The second genre is an online discussion video based on
women in science. It shows the womens perspectives about being scientists from different
countries around the world.
Audience and Purpose
The intended audience for this web-based article is directed towards women in general.
Women might search up this web-based article to have more information about whether or not
joining the science filed and learning about the advantages and disadvantages of it. Most women
know how difficult it is to get a job in the science arena, however they would also like to know
the challenges they would have to face and maybe even the different percentages of jobs women
have in the science work force. The audience can easily navigate through the website by
scrolling up and down. The purpose of this website is to state the challenges women face in the
science field and the solutions women can do in order to succeed.
Whereas the online discussion video, the intended audience is for minority women. The
forty-minute long discussion video shows four women scientists from different parts of the world
and they describe their experiences working in the United States, confronting issues that have to
do with gender. Women know that there are a few well-known women scientists and would like
to know their points of views of being a female scientist. This genre will take some time for the
audience to become informed because it is a lengthy video that they cannot just skip through to
get the information they are looking for. The online discussion video is a type of film to inform
the audiences of the challenges women minorities face.
The purpose of both these two genres is the same, to encourage women to join the
science field. However, the audience for each genre is somewhat different. One is meant for
women in general, while other is specifically towards minority women.

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Rhetorical Issues
The web-based article is composed of different sub categories. It attempts to grab the
audiences attention by stating some challenges and solutions a women scientist might face. The
article goes straight to the point and is very easy to read. It is completely based on information
and there is no pictures or fancy letters to take away from what the article is trying to do. The
article is trying to let women know that although being a women scientist is a difficult task, they
can get through it by following some of the solutions they state in the article.
As for the online discussion video, there is an interviewee and four women scientists
from around the world. The interviewee asks multiple questions to the women and each one of
them says their points of view. They talk about their experiences working in the United States
and about confronting issues such as gender and its impact on quality of research, professional
progress and the quality of life (Minority Women In Science, 2007). These four women scientists
give their own opinions on their journey through their science careers. Each one says that
although there are male dominated fields in science, it did not stop them from perusing their
dreams (Minority Women In Science, 2007). The video discussion gives women a sense of hope
and desire to keep following their own dreams even though it may be a tough road.
The online video discussion can impact a persons emotion far better than a web-based
article. The web-based article surely gives a lot of information about womens challenges and
solutions but it is not the same as hearing and seeing a real person who actually has gone through
that. Although the online video discussion is based on the four women scientists opinions, it
gives the video emotion and can there for give the audience that emotion. The web-based article
is a form of an expository type of writing while the online discussion video is more like a
narrative from each scientist.

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Structure & Delivery
The web-based article is organized by being broken down into different sub categories.
For example, there are three sub categories composed of challenges that they write about letting
the audience know how hard, as a women, a science career can be. At the bottom of each
challenge, there are solutions given to try and help the audience overcome these challenges. The
challenges are written in bold letters and an explanation of them is right after the challenges. The
solutions are also written in bold letters but the font size is a bit smaller and an explanation
follows as well. The language used in this genre is very formal and straight to the point.
For example, one of the challenges is, Shortage of mentors for women in STEM fields. Women
tend to have a harder time finding female mentors in STEM occupations. A more experienced
employee can show you the ropes and promote your accomplishments. This is important for
women in STEM, because they are often less likely than their male workers to promote
themselves. (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), 2016). However,
a solution they point out is to get involved into women based associations that have networking
and mentoring opportunities (Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM),
2016).
As for the online video discussion, someone is interviewing the four women scientists.
The video is forty-minutes long and full of different opinions and experiences. As the
interviewee asks questions, the women state one after the other their answers. Their form of
language and the way they speak is passionate yet professional. Each of the woman scientists has
a chance to say their experience and thoughts about being a women scientist. For example, one
of the scientists, Dr. Magaly Koch, explains how she had the opportunity to go to a workshop in
Kuwait. She then says, When people read my name, they do not know if I am a female or male.

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When I arrived at the workshop, all the students were surprised to find out I was a female. But I
was equally surprised because I expected more male students than female students. (Minority
Women In Science, 2007).
Regarding structure, the web-based article goes straight to the point and is very well
organized. Although the online video provides in depth information about experiences and
opinions, one needs to make time to watch the forty-minute long video.
Conclusion
As a final point, the web-based article and online discussion video are two different forms
of genres that transmit the same idea. They each have their similarities and differences. A very
obvious difference would be one you read and the other you watch and listen. Another would be
one is emotional while the other is not. The video is composed of opinions and experiences while
the article is based on pure information. Each genre can be interpreted in a variety of different
ways. Although both of these genres convey the issue well, it is completely up to the person
what type of information or instruction they are looking for.

References
Addict, Documentary. Minority Women In Science. Documentary Addict RSS. N.p., n.d. Web.
24 Sept. 2016.
Men, By. "Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)." CAREERwise
Education (formerly ISEEK.org). N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2016.