The Silent Contributions of Women in Science

The renowned Polish physicist, Marie Curie, born Maria Skłodowska, is a celebrated figure in science today, yet her journey was fraught with challenges. When the Nobel Committee considered awarding her, along with her husband, Pierre Curie, the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903 for their groundbreaking research on spontaneous radiation, they nearly omitted her due to her gender. This would have unjustly assigned all recognition to Pierre. Fortunately, Swedish mathematician Magnus Goesta Mittag-Leffler intervened, advocating for Marie’s inclusion. Had she not been married, it's likely the outcome would have been vastly different.

Another prominent figure, Lise Meitner, an Austrian physicist who played a crucial role in the discovery of nuclear fission, was not as fortunate. Her collaborator, Otto Hahn, claimed the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1944 for their joint work, largely because he minimized her contributions. Author Marissa Moss highlights that in his acceptance speech, he referred to her with a term meaning "assistant."

Many other female scientists, inventors, and thinkers faced even greater obscurity, as societal norms of their times condemned them for pursuing such "unladylike" careers. While their intellectual achievements rivaled those of their male counterparts and shaped modern society, their names are often lost to history. Frequently, only the men who appropriated their work are remembered.

The phenomenon of women's contributions being overlooked is a recognized pattern known as the Matilda Effect. This term, coined by Cornell historian Margaret W. Rossiter, reflects a century-old struggle that traces back to American suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage. In her 1883 essay "Woman as an Inventor," Gage challenged the prevailing notion that women lacked inventive talent, citing instances where women's inventions were credited to men.

Despite the historical context, the Matilda Effect extends beyond the sciences. It stems from long-standing stereotypes that assert women lack the qualities associated with genius, resulting in their exclusion from creative and academic fields. For centuries, women were barred from higher education. Marie Curie, for instance, was denied admission to Kraków University simply for being female. They also faced legal barriers to owning property or starting businesses, as any possessions a woman had were legally considered her husband's.

While some women found ways to navigate these patriarchal restrictions, only a few succeeded in leaving a mark on history. Others, like Rosalind Franklin, whose discovery of the DNA double helix was appropriated by Watson and Crick, or Margaret Knight, whose design for a machine to mass-produce flat-bottomed bags was stolen, illustrate the harsh reality faced by women in academia and industry.

Some women, including Ada Lovelace, the first to publish a computer program, and Lizzie Magie, the creator of Monopoly, died in obscurity, their contributions overshadowed by male counterparts who claimed credit for their work. Even women who sought recognition were often dismissed. When Margaret Knight challenged the theft of her design, her opponent argued that she couldn't grasp the machine's complexities, despite her eventual victory and further innovations.

The question lingers: how many brilliant women remain unrecognized in history? The roles of many women, often labeled merely as "assistants" or "wives of great men," deserve reevaluation. For instance, Mileva Einstein Marić, Einstein’s first wife, was a capable physicist in her own right.

The implications of this erasure are profound. The lack of acknowledgment of women's contributions leads to a scarcity of female role models in various fields. Research from the National Women's History Alliance indicates that in the 1980s, less than 3% of educational materials in the U.S. acknowledged women's societal contributions. The Smithsonian found that only 178 of 737 historical figures taught in schools were women, while in the UK, studying women's history is not mandatory.

Even today, stereotypes about women’s capabilities persist. A recent study revealed that girls as young as six associate intelligence predominantly with males. Research shows that parents and mentors often underestimate the potential of female students compared to their male peers, contributing to a decline in interest in STEM subjects among girls as they mature.

Women in the spotlight often find themselves defined through their relationships with men. A recent headline from Sky News about Susie Wolff described her as the "wife of the F1 team boss," underscoring the ongoing prevalence of the Matilda Effect.

As Women's History Month draws to a close, it is crucial to recognize that the stories we hear only scratch the surface of women's contributions to history. A recent study by Finnish researchers uncovered 126 overlooked female classical composers from the 19th and early 20th centuries, many of whose works remain lost or hidden. This revelation challenges the assumption that women were absent from the world of composition.

Moreover, the contributions of Black, immigrant, and working-class women have been systematically erased, reinforcing outdated narratives about gender roles. The labor performed by women throughout history, including domestic work during the World Wars and in agricultural sectors, deserves recognition.

Acknowledging these contributions is vital, as the advancements made by women have been integral to societal progress. Despite the dominance of men in various fields, the achievements of women have shaped the world profoundly.

As we reflect on the 140 years since Matilda Joslyn Gage's essay, it is evident that while progress has been made, much work remains to dismantle enduring androcentric narratives. Without continued efforts, the legacy of women like Gage will fade, and many more Matildas may go unrecognized in the future.