‘An Effete World’: Gendered Criticism and the British Association

Abstract

On the whole, historians have been fairly positive in their estimation of the success of the BAAS in raising the public profile of science over the first two decades of its existence. Although not generally focused on by scholars, the masculine image of men of science was an important part of this profile, and there is little suggestion from historians that the reputation of male scientists sustained any long-term damage in these years. While acknowledging some initial criticism, directed, in particular, at the festival-like atmosphere and expense of BAAS meetings in the early years, from publications like The Times, John Bull and the Tractarian British Critic, most accounts do not dwell in depth on these comments.