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The Hidden History of Women in Science: Women Writing Science

Cade Simmons

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Published in The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History Of Women In Science (Women Writing Science)

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Women have been making significant contributions to science for centuries, but their stories have often been overlooked or marginalized. This article will explore the hidden history of women in science, focusing on women who have written about science.

We will begin by examining the challenges that women have faced in pursuing a career in science. We will then discuss some of the most famous women scientists and their contributions to the field. Finally, we will explore the ways in which women are continuing to make their mark on science today.

Challenges Faced by Women in Science

Women have faced a number of challenges in pursuing a career in science. These challenges have included:

The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science (Women Writing Science)

by Julie Des Jardins

4.6 out of 5

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Discrimination: Women have often been excluded from scientific societies, universities, and research institutions. They have also been paid less than men for the same work and have been less likely to be promoted to positions of leadership.
Lack of role models: Women have often lacked role models to inspire them to pursue a career in science. This is because there have been relatively few women scientists throughout history.
Family responsibilities: Women have often been expected to take on the majority of childcare and household responsibilities. This has made it difficult for them to pursue a career in science, which requires a significant amount of time and effort.

Famous Women Scientists and Their Contributions

Despite the challenges they have faced, women have made significant contributions to science. Some of the most famous women scientists include:

Marie Curie: Curie was a Polish-born physicist and chemist who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of radioactivity. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields.
Rosalind Franklin: Franklin was a British chemist who made important contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA. Her work was essential to the development of modern genetics.
Jane Goodall: Goodall is a British primatologist who has dedicated her life to studying chimpanzees. Her work has helped us to better understand the behavior and intelligence of our closest living relatives.
Rachel Carson: Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist who wrote the influential book Silent Spring. Her work helped to raise awareness of the dangers of pesticides and other environmental pollutants.
Sally Ride: Ride was an American astronaut who became the first American woman to travel to space. She flew on the space shuttle Challenger in 1983 and 1984.

Women in Science Today

Women are continuing to make their mark on science today. They are earning more degrees in science and engineering, and they are working in a wider range of scientific fields than ever before.

Some of the most promising women scientists today include:

Elizabeth Blackwell: Blackwell was the first woman to graduate from medical school in the United States. She went on to found the New York Infirmary for Women and Children, which was the first hospital in the United States to be staffed entirely by women.
Gertrude Elion: Elion was an American biochemist and pharmacologist who made important contributions to the development of drugs for treating leukemia, gout, and herpes. She won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1988.
Rita Levi-Montalcini: Levi-Montalcini was an Italian neurologist who made important discoveries about the growth and development of nerve cells. She won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986.
Wang Zhenyi: Wang is a Chinese chemist who has made important contributions to the development of new materials for use in solar cells and batteries. She was awarded the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award in 2011.
Emmanuelle Charpentier: Charpentier is a French biochemist who has made important contributions to the development of CRISPR-Cas9, a gene-editing technology that is revolutionizing the field of medicine. She won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020.

Women have made significant contributions to science throughout history, but their stories have often been overlooked or marginalized. This article has explored the hidden history of women in science, focusing on women who have written about science.

We have seen that women have faced a number of challenges in pursuing a career in science, but they have overcome these challenges to make important contributions to the field. Women are continuing to make their mark on science today, and they are sure to continue to play a vital role in the development of science in the future.

The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science (Women Writing Science)

by Julie Des Jardins

4.6 out of 5