# Recognizing Women's Hidden Contributions in Science
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Chapter 1: The Unseen Impact of Women in Science
Women in science have made remarkable advancements across various fields, including mathematics and computer science, yet their contributions frequently go unacknowledged in historical accounts.
Rosalind Franklin's pivotal role in uncovering the structure of DNA exemplifies this oversight. Despite her groundbreaking work, she was denied a Nobel Prize posthumously, as the honor was awarded to two male colleagues. It raises the question: did they adequately acknowledge her contributions during their acceptance speeches?
Margaret Rossiter took it upon herself to shed light on these overlooked figures in science. However, she faced resistance from funding sources that saw little value in highlighting the names of women who had previously been ignored. The stereotype persists that women’s roles are limited to trivial tasks, such as measuring ingredients for baking.
UPDATE: “Lise Meitner formulated the theory of nuclear fission, which was crucial for the development of the atomic bomb. Yet, her identity as both a Jewish woman hindered her from receiving due recognition for this discovery, as revealed in newly translated correspondence.”
UPDATE (10/3/2023): “Anne L’Huillier, 65, is a professor at Lund University in Sweden and was born in Paris. She is the fifth woman ever to win the Physics Nobel Prize, following Andrea Ghez, who was honored in 2020.”
I fondly remember my visit to an old observatory in New England, where a guide shared that Maria Mitchell was the first woman to gaze at the stars and reveal their secrets. Additionally, I was unaware of Eunice Newton Foote, who predicted climate change in the 19th century but received scant recognition, with her name barely mentioned in a leading journal.
Just as Lilith, a figure from religious texts, is often overlooked, so too have many pioneering women in science been pushed into obscurity. Lilith, the first wife of Adam, was deemed too intelligent to be accepted, leading to her banishment. This narrative has historically painted women as inferior or dangerous, reinforcing a long-standing bias against their intellect.
Throughout history, misconceptions about women's intellect have persisted. For example, in 1879, French scholar Gustave Le Bon claimed that even among the most intelligent races, many women had brains more akin to gorillas than to those of the most advanced men. This article highlights that “Franklin independently theorized the helical structure of DNA,” yet who truly benefited from her findings?
Many women have been effectively erased from scientific literature. A recent professional article noted that while women have been essential in computational fields, their contributions have often gone unrecognized. The authors pointed out that the acknowledgment of women programmers has diminished over time, paralleling the male dominance in programming roles. This acknowledgment is crucial, and we owe a significant debt of gratitude to women like Mrs. M. Wu and countless others who worked behind the scenes.
Can I enumerate all the women whose contributions to science have been overlooked? Not entirely, but there are now resources online to help us discover their stories, fostering a renewed appreciation for their work. While we may know of Marie Curie, many other women have diligently labored in labs or offices, solving complex equations.
The New York Times has started to address this gap in recognition, and you can join this initiative. Similarly, the Smithsonian Museum is working to highlight the remarkable achievements of these unsung heroes.