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Margaret Benston

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Margaret Lowe Benston
Born1937
Died1991
NationalityCanadian
CitizenshipCanadian
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry, computer science, women's studies, labour studies
InstitutionsSimon Fraser University

Margaret "Maggie" Lowe Benston (1937-1991) was a professor of chemistry, computing science, and women's studies at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[1] She was a respected feminist and labour activist, as well as a founding member of the Vancouver Women's Caucus, in 1988, the Euphoniously Feminist and Non-Performing Quintet in 1970, Simon Fraser University's Women's Studies Program in 1975, and Mayworks in 1988.[2] For thirty years, Benston worked locally, nationally, and internationally writing articles, giving speeches, and lobbying politicians on behalf of the women's and labour movement.[3] Maggie died of cancer on 7 March 1991.[4]

Academic work

Margaret Benston obtained an undergraduate degree in chemistry and philosophy and a PhD in theoretical chemistry from the University of Washington in 1964.[5][6] Following this, she worked as a post-doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin.[5] Benston joined Simon Fraser University as a charter faculty member in 1966 in the Department of Chemistry. She was one of the founders of Women's Studies program in the mid-1970s, and taught in the program part-time. Best known for articles such as "Infrared Spectroscopy" in The Annual Review of Physical Chemistry and "New Force Theorem" in The Journal of Chemistry and Physics, Benston continued as a practicing scientist throughout her life, but also went on to be more involved in feminism and activism.[6] Her 1969 essay, The Political Economy of Women's Liberation, was one of the first Marxist feminist critiques from a Canadian perspective.[7] This article helped establish the framework for much of the feminist debates in the 1970s, as it was one of the first to use a Marxist parameter to explain the oppression of women.[4] The article was later reproduced in books such as Liberation Now? Women in a Made-Made World and Feminist Frameworks, it was also translated into Spanish, French, Italian, Swedish, German, and Japanese.[6] In the 1980s, Benston became interested in computer science. She switched fields and received a joint appointment in the Women's Studies and Computing Science departments. Thereafter she explored the relationship between computerization, women, and work.[8]

Benston was the first to argue that women formed a reserve army of labour, a group that could be manipulated in a certain way because women are responsible for the reproduction of labour power.[6] She argued that women's domestic and wage labour were essential to the flow of capitalist production and that women could not be fully integrated into wage labour without a full transformation in both of the forms of labour, which ultimately would mean a transformation of capitalism.[6] In turn, this created the view that women form a class because of their domestic labour, this became known internationally as the domestic labour debate.[6]

Personal life and activism

Committed to social justice, Benston was a founding member of the Euphoniously Feminist and Non-Performing Quintet, groups who taught feminist labour and anti-war songs to audiences at picket lines and rallies.[9] As a labour activist, she helped found Vancouver Mayworks (a cultural festival celebrating workers), the Vancouver Women's Caucus, a New Left political craze that swept Simon Fraser University in the late 1960s,[10] and Women's Skills Development of British Columbia.[11] A music fan, she played a leading role in establishing the Vancouver Folk Music Festival.[8] Benston also helped start the Vancouver Mayworks, a festival that celebrated workers' culture.[6] Mayworks is currently a Festival of Labour and the Arts, with active participants in Parksville, Comox Valley and Campbell River, on Vancouver Island.[12]

With five other women (Mary Vickers, Hilda Ching, Abby Schwarz, Mary Jo Duncan, Diana Herbst), Benston founded The Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) in Vancouver in 1981,[13] which aims to "support and promote the education of girls and women through programs and activities that we develop in partnership with the community."[14] Benston died in 1991 at age 52, after a long battle with cancer.[8]

Legacy

The Maggie Benston Centre at Simon Fraser University was the second campus building named after a woman at the university (the first being the Madge Hogarth residence).[8]

The Margaret Lowe Benston Memorial Graduate Bursary in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies is named after her.[15] The purpose of this award is to provide financial support for students in the MA and PhD programs in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at Simon Fraser University.[16]

Begun in 1994, the "Margaret Lowe Benston (MLB) Lecture Series in Social Justice is financed by an endowment established in her memory.[16] Until the final lecture in 2008, there was a total of nine speakers, including Marilyn Waring and Leslie Feinberg.[16] Over the course of the series, the lectures were highly successful, having a general attendance of between 200 and 320 people.[16]

Publications

Books

  • Lowe, Marian; Debresson, C.; Vorst, J. (1987). Work and new technologies: Other perspectives. Toronto: Between the Lines.
  • Lowe, Marian; Jasteenmaki, M. (1972). Quantitative chemistry. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Book chapters

  • Lowe, Marian (1989). "Feminism and system design: Questions of control", in Tomm, W. The effects of feminist approaches on research methodologies, Toronto: Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
  • Lowe, Marian (1987). "Women's voices/men's voices: Technology as language", in Kramarae, C. Technology and women's voices, London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
  • Lowe, Marian; Debresson, C. (1987), "Introduction", in Lowe, Marian; Debresson, C.; Vorst, J. (eds.), Work and new technologies: Other perspectives, Toronto: Between the Lines. {{citation}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Lowe, Marian; White, Margaret; Cohen, Marcy (1987), "Community based research around technological change", in Lowe, Marian; Debresson, C.; Vorst, J. (eds.), Work and new technologies: Other perspectives, Toronto: Between the Lines. {{citation}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Lowe, Marian (1987), "Marxism, science and workers' control", in Lowe, Marian; Debresson, C.; Vorst, J. (eds.), Work and new technologies: Other perspectives, Toronto: Between the Lines. {{citation}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Lowe, Marian (1985). "Power to the end user", in Wilson, C. Democratic socialism: The challenge for the 80s and beyond, Vancouver: New Star.
  • Lowe, Marian (1982). "For women, now the chips are down", in Zimmerman, J. Technological women, New York: Praeger Press.
  • Lowe, Marian (1982). "Feminism and the critique of scientific method", in Miles, A.; Finn, G. Feminism in Canada, Montreal: Black Rose.
  • Lowe, Marian (1981). "Introduction", in Connolly, P. Last hired, first fired, Toronto: Women's Press.

Articles

  • Lowe, Marian. "Review of science and gender and women and minorities in science". Atlantis. 10 (2): 171–172. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian. "The myth of computer literacy". Canadian Woman Studies. 5 (4): 20–24. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian (November 1986). "Questioning authority: Women and scientific expertise". Resources for Feminist Research. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Benston, Margaret Lowe (1984). "The uneasy alliance of feminism and academia". Women's Studies International Forum, special issue: Strategies for Women's Studies in the 80's. 7 (3). Elsevier: 177–183. doi:10.1016/0277-5395(84)90008-6. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian (Fall 1984). "Review of Still Ain't Satisfied: Canadian Feminism Today". Labour Studies. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian (June 1983). "Artificial intelligence and dehumanization". Journal of Community Communications. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian (June 1983). "Technology in the workplace: Chipping away at women's work". Herizons. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian. "Strategies for social change". Second Wave. 2 (2): 10–15. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Davitt, P.J. (June 1978). "Single working women and the industrial revolution". Makara. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Davitt, P.J. (June 1975). "Women invent society". Canadian Dimension. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Wang, P.S.C.; Chong, D.P. (1974). "Application of the distinguishable electron method". International Journal of Quantum Chemistry. 8: 137. doi:10.1002/qua.560080114. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Wang, P.S.C.; Chong, D.P. (1973). "Constrained variation method for excited state energies of atoms and molecules". Journal of Chemical Physics. 5 (9): 1721. doi:10.1063/1.1680254. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Benston, Margaret Lowe (September 1969). "Political economy of women's liberation". Monthly Review. doi:10.14452/mr-021-04-1969-08_2. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Chong, D.P. (1968). "Parameters for multiple constraints". Theoretica Chimica Acta. 12: 175–177. doi:10.1007/bf00539389. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Chong, D.P. (1968). "Multi-configuration self-consistent field theory with non-orthogonal orbitals". Molecular Physics. 1 (4): 449–456. doi:10.1080/00268976800100561. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Chong, D.P. (1968). "Off-diagonal hypervirial theorems as constraints". Journal of Chemical Physics. 4 (9): 1302–1306. doi:10.1063/1.1670224. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Chong, D.P. (1967). "Off-diagonal constrained variations in open - shell SCF theory". Molecular Physics. 1 (2): 478–487. doi:10.1080/00268976700100621. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Kirtman, B. (1967). "Extended average energy method for perturbation problems". Journal of Chemical Physics. 4 (6): 472–478. doi:10.1063/1.1840691. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian (1966). "New force theorem". Journal of Chemical Physics. 4 (4): 126–130. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Kirtman, B. (1966). "Diatomic forces and force constraints. I. Errors in the Hellmann-Feynman method". Journal of Chemical Physics. 4 (4): 119–126. doi:10.1063/1.1726434. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Kirtman, B. (1966). "Diatomic forces and force constraints. II. Variation - perturbation method". Journal of Chemical Physics. 4 (4): 126–130. doi:10.1063/1.1726435. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  • Lowe, Marian; Kirtman, B.; Cross, P. (1962). "Infrared spectroscopy". Annual Review of Physical Chemistry. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link)

Conference proceedings

  • Lowe, Marian (1988). Empowering Women in the Practice of Science and Technology Proceedings, Central American Conference on Women in Science, Technology, and Medicine. Seattle.
  • Lowe, Marian (1983). Women Scientists, Machines and Technology Proceedings, First National Conference on Women in Science. SCWIST. Vancouver.

References

  1. ^ Cox, Sue (1983). "Maggie Benston collection". Simon Fraser University Archives. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Simon Fraser University. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  2. ^ Portrebenko, Helen (1998). Letters to Maggie. Vancouver: Lazara Press. ISBN 0920999344.
  3. ^ SFU Women's Studies Department; SFU Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. "Margaret Lowe Benston (MLB) Lecture Series in Social Justice (1995-2008) - Summary".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b Balka, Ellen. "Margaret Lowe Benston: 1937-1991".
  5. ^ a b Lowe, Marian (Winter 1993). "To understand the world in order to change it". Canadian Woman Studies. 13 (2): 6–10.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Luxton, Meg; Armstrong, Pat. "Margaret Lowe Benston, 1937-1991". Studies in Political Economy: 1–11.
  7. ^ Holmstrom, Nancy (March 2003). "The Socialist Feminist Project". Monthly Review. 54 (10). doi:10.14452/mr-054-10-2003-03_4. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d "Who was Maggie Benston?". Simon Fraser News. Vol. 7, no. 2. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Simon Fraser University. September 19, 1996. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  9. ^ Davitt, Pat (1993). "Songs for Ourselves, Revisited". Canadian Woman Studies. 13 (2): 21–24. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  10. ^ Sethna, Christabelle; Hewitt, Steve (September 2009). "Clandestine Operations: The Vancouver Women's Caucus, the Abortion Caravan, and the RCMP". The Canadian Historical Review. 90 (3): 463–495. doi:10.1353/can.0.0189.
  11. ^ Balka, Ellen (1991). "Obituary: Margaret Lowe Benston, 1937-1991". Canadian Woman Studies: 11–13. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  12. ^ "Mayworks".
  13. ^ "Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology fonds". Simon Fraser University Archives. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Simon Fraser University. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  14. ^ SCWIST. Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology http://www.scwist.ca/about-scwist/what-is-scwist/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ "Margaret Lowe Benston Memorial Graduate Bursary in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies". Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Fellows: Private Awards. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Simon Fraser University. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d "Margaret Lowe Benston Memorial Graduate Bursary in Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies". Simon Fraser University.

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