Dismantling racism & oppression: Bias in Information, Research & Libraries

Camosun anti-oppression book reviews

Laura Biggs (BIOLOGY)

Laura shares an impactful resource she came across while researching intersex topics.

The Spectrum of Sex: The Science of Male, Female, and Intersex, by Hida Viloria & Maria Nieto, 2020
In print: HQ 78 V55 2020

The authors of this book successfully weave together the biological aspects of intersex with historical information and social implications. Most chapters include an impactful story of lived experience from a person who is intersex. The technical information is written in an accessible way and is complemented by diagrams. The book is well-researched and has an extensive reference list. It is a thought-provoking and informative read. 

Camosun anti-oppression book reviews

Jennifer Giuliani (BIOLOGY)

Jennifer, a Camosun instructor for 16 years, is examining her practice as an educator in the sciences. Connecting with Jennifer resulted in the acquisition of two books for the Camosun Library’s collection. Jennifer shares her reviews of the books below.

Superior: The Return of Race Science, by Angela Saini, 2019
In print: HT 1506 S25 2019

This well-written book was a great introduction for me to the history and reality of racism in science, from the Enlightenment to the present day. Saini’s journalistic writing style, incorporating interviews and a review of the published literature, makes this book very accessible. I also appreciated her more global perspective (as compared with the majority of the other books and articles about racism in science which are primarily focused on racism in the United States).

Contribute a review
Do you have an anti-oppression book to recommend? Do you have insights to share with your peers through a review? If so, contact Robbyn Lanning, Librarian, at lanningr@camosun.ca