Carson, Rachel (1907–1964)

Early Years

Growing up in western Pennsylvania, Carson spent comparatively little time with other children her age. Her mother believed that Carson had a frail constitution, and often kept her out of school. As a follower of the nature study movement—a teaching method which held that direct experience of nature could lead a child to both an aesthetic and scientific appreciation of the environment—Carson's mother tutored her according to these beliefs. The two spent hours roaming the land around their small farm, identifying birds, plants, and animals. This early upbringing later helped Carson to envision herself as not only a member of a human community, but also of the nonhuman environment.

When she entered Pennsylvania Women's College (now Chatham College), Rachel Carson decided to become a member of the scientific community as well. She began college with the intention of becoming a writer, but then found herself fascinated by biology and the life sciences. With the encouragement of her mentor and science instructor, Mary Scott Skinker, Carson majored in English and biology. In 1929 Carson entered graduate school in zoology at Johns Hopkins University. At this time much bias and discrimination existed against women in the sciences. Most people believed that women were not intellectually or physically capable of pursuing scientific careers. In the scientific professions, few if any women ever rose to positions of power.

Her difficult family situation, compounded with this discouraging atmosphere, had a negative impact on Carson's graduate career. As she began graduate school, the Depression had also just begun. Jobs and resources were scarce. Because of age or health problems, few of her family members could hold full-time jobs. At one point while a graduate student, Carson was financially responsible for five only partially able-bodied family members. To accommodate her outside employment, she was forced to drop to part-time student status. As a result, her research moved slowly as well. More and more, she found herself on the margins of academic life. Finally Carson was forced to acknowledge that she could not both go to graduate school and support her family. After finishing her thesis and receiving a master's degree, Carson gave up her dream of pursuing a doctorate and started looking for a job instead.

A Scientist and a Writer

The gender bias against women in science followed Carson into employment. Luckily, however, given the dire economic climate, she did find a position. [Page 147]She began working in 1936 as a science writer for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries (later the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service). Although trained to perform scientific research, Carson instead found herself editing and summarizing the research of others. At this time, it was not uncommon for female scientists to find themselves supporting the work of male scientists, rather than directly participating in or directing fieldwork or experimentation. However, the lowpaying job did have some advantages. Carson had access to a vast realm of scientific literature, much of it unavailable to the general public. Later in her career as a writer, she would draw on the background and expertise provided by this job.

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