Nancy Leys Stepan

About the Author

Nancy Leys Stepan is a distinguished historian and scholar whose work illuminates the intersections of science, society, and culture in modern history. With a focus on the Americas, she has explored how eugenics shaped national identities and social policies during pivotal eras. Her seminal book, 'The Hour of Eugenics: Race, Gender, and Nation in Latin America,' offers a nuanced examination of how racial ideologies and gender norms influenced Latin American nations in the early twentieth century, drawing on extensive archival research to reveal the global dimensions of scientific racism. Stepan's scholarship bridges disciplines, challenging readers to reconsider the legacies of pseudoscience in contemporary debates on identity and inequality. A professor emerita at Columbia University, she continues to influence academic discourse through her incisive analyses and commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry.