Commentary—misconceiving merit: Paradoxes of excellence and devotion in academic science and engineering

Abstract

AbstractMisconceiving Merit: Paradoxes of excellence and devotion in academic science and engineering is an easy‐to‐read, well‐organized text that implicates hegemonic ideology and the myth of meritocracy that is omnipresent within science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The book is filled with both qualitative and quantitative data that tells a story of the popular notions of success and exceptionality including work devotion and scientific excellence and counters them with the realities of scientific productivity. It paints a picture of what academic STEM spaces are like for women, racially minoritized, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons, and how the myth of meritocracy is upheld and reinforced by systems within academia. I recommend this book for students, teachers, grant funders, and anyone else within academic STEM and STEM education spaces.