The Impact of Sexism on Women in Science: Historical Perspectives

This essay examines the historical role of women in science, focusing on the discrimination they faced and their significant contributions despite societal barriers. It highlights examples such as Eunice Foote, who was denied credit for her discovery of the greenhouse effect, and the challenges face...Read More

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Women in Science
(Author’s name)
(Institutional Affiliation)

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However their contributions largely remained unappreciated as the women are written
out of history. This discrimination of women in the science discipline was largely due to
strictly defined social roles that excluded women from science. This is evident in the fact
that women were largely denied the opportunity to study and participate in science studies at
the university level. A great example of discrimination against women in the field of science
is evident in the case of Eunice Foote who was the first person to define the greenhouse
effect but was denied credit for her discovery by a society that was largely sexist (McNeill,
2016). Despite publishing her work in a paper titled, “Circumstances affecting heat of the
sun rays,” credit for her work was given to John Tyndall who published similar results three
years later (McNeill, 2016). The exclusion of women from science angered a particular
section of the historical society and this led to the emergence of feminist’s historians who
have vested interest in sensitizing the scientific community on the contributions that have
been made by women in the field. The increased social interest on this matter has led to
women in science becoming an academic discipline.
Over the years women have actively contributed in different scientific fields like
medicine, astronomy, environmental science and chemistry. Due to their contributions which
were largely undeniable women who were excluded from studying science in institutions of
higher learning started to become accepted as learned fellows in those very institutions.
Early 19th century
During the 19th century the scientific community was quite unreceptive to women and
most especially those who were scientifically curious. There were very limited education
opportunities for women scientists within higher education centers and scientific bodies like
the American Association of Advancement of Science (AAAS) acted as gatekeepers

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preventing the recognition of scientific works that were produced by women researchers.
The reason for the gate keeping role assumed by this institution was largely due to the very
low representation of women in the organizations. For example until the year 1850 all the
members of the AAAS were male. Reputable organizations like the Smithsonian did not
recognize the role played by women in the scientific world as reflected in its creed, “ for the
increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” Despite the many barriers that made it
difficult for women scientists to succeed, there are still a number of women who were able to
navigate the challenges and make significant contributions to the world of science.
Caroline Herschel, (1750-1848) a German astronomer, made significant contributions to
the science world’s understanding of space. She worked together with her older brother
William and the two were able to identify and record over 2500 star and nebulae clusters (10
amazing women in science history you really should know about, 2014). Their efforts
allowed for the development of New General Catalogue which is used in the naming of
celestial bodies. She was also the first woman to identify a comment and King George III

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recognized her work by employing her in the year 1787. Over the course of her career she
was able to discover 8 comets, 14 nebulas and added over 561 stars to the Flamsteeds Atlas
(10 amazing women in science history you really should know about, 2014). To overcome
most of the barriers that made it difficult for women to excel in the scientific industry, she
worked together with her brother William Herschel who was also an astronomer.
Mary Anning (1799-1847) an English Fossil hunter also had to struggle and
overcome the challenges that made it difficult for women scientists to excel in the 19th
century (10 amazing women in science history you really should know about, 2014). She
was educated on how to collect fossils by her father and worked together with her brother
who helped her to navigate through the numerous obstacles for women scientists at the time.
In the year 1811, while she was 12 years she discovered a fossilized skeleton of
ichthyosaurus after her brother found only the skull of the skeleton (10 amazing women in

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science history you really should know about, 2014). This made the discovery the first ever
of a completely fossilized dinosaur. Other than that she discovered the complete fossil of a
Pterodactylus and a long necked Plesiosaurus skeleton. Through her discoveries she helped
to move the scientific thinking of creation away from the doctrine of the bible.
Austrian-Swedish physicist Lise Meitner was also another female scientist who made
significant contribution to the world of science (10 amazing women in science history you
really should know about, 2014). She was a foremost nuclear scientist in Germany and
received a Nobel Prize for her contributions to science.

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References
10 amazing women in science history you really should know about. (2014). Retrieved from
http://www.sciencefocus.com/article/future/famous-female-scientists-science-history
McNeill, L. (2016, December 05). This Lady Scientist Defined the Greenhouse Effect But
Didn't Get the Credit, Because Sexism. Retrieved from
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/lady-scientist-helped-
revolutionize-climate-science-didnt-get-credit-180961291/