In 2018, women reclaimed their voice and shed a spotlight on violence against them after decades of not being heard or believed. In a similar vein, women’s contributions and legacies in science, technology, and history have all too frequently gone unacknowledged. Perhaps, 2019 will be the year that women’s achievements, both past and present, will be recognized, honored and extolled.
The marginalization of the contributions of women in science is perhaps the most blatant and easy to reference. The list of female scientists who have contributed important and ground breaking discoveries that have received little or no acknowledgement in history books and scientific circles is quite long. One need look no further than the story of, Rosalind Franklin.
Critical in the discovery of the structure of DNA, she is frequently overlooked in favor of her male colleagues, Watson and Crick. Franklin was the first person to ever take a picture of DNA structure. Similarly, Irish astrophysicist, Jocelyn Bell Burnell helped build a telescope that ultimately enabled her to be the first to identify and analyze pulsars, spinning stars that remain after the explosion of massive stars. Yet, her supervisor, Antony Hewish, and colleague, Martin Ryle, received the 1974 Nobel Prize in their field.
Likewise, scientist Marte Gautier discovered the chromosome responsible for Downs Syndrome; however the credit for doing so was given not to her, but to a male colleague. Only years later did she receive the credit she deserved. These are just a handful of examples among many where women in science have been overlooked.
While one might argue that things have changed in recent years, a 2012 study in the journal Social Studies of Science found that when men chaired committees that select scientific award recipients, men won the awards more than 95 percent of the time despite the fact that women made up 21 percent of the nomination pools from which they were chosen. Moreover, they found that that women tend to receive more teaching and service awards in science; far fewer prestigious scholarly awards are given than should be expected given their representation in the nomination pool.
These findings come as little surprise for researchers in social science who study the “Matilda Effect,” a phenomenon first described by author and activist, Matilda Joslyn Gage (1826-1898) in her essay “ Women as Inventor.” This effect refers to the implicit bias that exists against acknowledging the achievements of women scientists, based on the unconscious, tacit assumption that rigorous scholarly work is the domain of men. Contemporary studies show that the Matilda Effect remains powerful even now. For instance, recent studies show that editors of both genders are significantly more likely to give positive peer reviews on articles where men are lead authors, and similarly that managers are far more likely to hire male scientists.
Gender bias remains both an historical and modern day phenomenon in almost every field and workplace. There remains a very real gender gap in terms of pay, recognition, and leadership opportunity. While sexist cultural bias may be responsible, there are those who argue that part of the gender discrepancies in achievement recognition are due to a “confidence gap” that exists among women. This theory suggests that women simply feel less confident than men in their own abilities and fail to promote themselves when the moment is right. Proponents of this theory argue that women’s tendency to avoid self-promotion results in being passed over for leadership roles, pay raises, and award recognition.
Yet, to the contrary, there is strong body of evidence which shows that women feel just as confident in their abilities and talent as their male peers. However, women have learned that the expression of self confidence is not equally rewarded for women and men. Researchers have concluded what women have long known: unless they temper their assertiveness with more stereotypically feminine traits like empathy and the desire to benefit others, they are likely to face a “backlash effect.” Such backlash includes both social and professional sanctions in the form of being invalidated and overlooked for failing to conform to gender norms. Thus, it is the fear of backlash that often prevents women from demanding the recognition they deserve.
While change in status quo is slow, there are a number of talented authors who have begun to redirect the spotlight in superb works of historical fiction highlighting exceptional women who achieved groundbreaking accomplishments even when unsupported and vehemently opposed.
"The Only Woman In The Room," by Marie Benedict, is a genuinely captivating, well researched, and stunning work of historical fiction that spotlights the incredible life of famed actress Hedy Lamarr. Known largely for her dazzling screen presence, Lamarr was in reality also a talented inventor and scientist whose contribution in the field of radio-communication laid the foundation for today’s mobile technology.
Austrian born Hedy Kiesler is a young actress known for her talent and beauty who becomes the trophy wife of a notorious arms dealer, allowing her to avoid Nazi persecution despite her Jewish heritage. Forced to entertain at her husband’s lavish dinner parties, she overhears the plans of the Third Reich. When she seeks escape from both her abusive husband and the Nazi Party’s plans for Austria- she flees to America and becomes the iconic film star we all know as Hedy Lamarr.
While the world admires her dazzling screen presence, few appreciate the true intellect she also possesses. Using her knowledge of pre-war Nazi plans, she begins to invent a radio-controlled torpedo system that may help win the war. But, is the United States Navy ready to accept her intellectual contributions, or will they ultimately be blinded by her beauty and overlook all that this brilliant woman has to offer the world?
"The Aviator’s Wife," by Melanie Benjamin, is a riveting, poignant and powerful story of Anne Morrow, the woman who married pioneering aviator Charles Lindbergh.
In this vividly rendered account of Anne Morrow, we are introduced to the shy, self-effacing daughter of an ambassador who eventually marries famed aviator Charles Lindbergh in 1929.
Early on his celebrity as the first pilot to cross the Atlantic, constantly threatens to completely overshadow her. Later we not only learn details of the famous 1932 kidnapping of her first child and the terrible grief she suffers, but we are offered insight into her deeply troubled marriage. However, the true inspirational power of the story lies in the chronicling of the lesser known achievements of this deeply talented woman who becomes both a pioneering aviator in her own right, and a successful author of thirteen books.
In the end, it is Anne Morrow Lindbergh herself who captures our imagination in this intimate, fictional look at an utterly unforgettable couple.
"The Lost Girls Of Paris," by Pam Jenoff, is a remarkable, utterly absorbing, not to be missed story of friendship, bravery, and tenacity. With great poignancy Jenoff tells the tale of a group of extraordinary women who comprised a female spy ring which helped change the course of events during WWll.
Based on the true story of the Secret Operations Executive, The Lost Girls Of Paris focuses on Eleanor Trigg, leader of a female spy ring deployed out of London and the brave young women she recruited to become couriers and radio operators in occupied France.
When the war is over, an American widow, Grace Healy, accidentally discovers Eleanor’s suitcase filled with photographs of these secret agents and begins a journey to uncover the story of the daring mission undertaken by young women who sacrificed so much to achieve an allied victory.Nancy Harris of Scituate a practicing psychologist and a former instructor of psychology at Harvard Medical School.
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