The history of science is replete with contributions from women who have often been overlooked, underrepresented, or outright ignored due to systemic gender biases, societal norms, and institutional barriers. While some women have gained recognition in recent years, many of their stories remain untold or underappreciated. Below is an overview of overlooked contributions by women in science history and the barriers they faced.

Overlooked Contributions of Women in Science

• Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958)


• Contribution: Franklin played a critical role in discovering the structure of DNA. Her X-ray diffraction images of DNA, particularly the famous "Photo 51," provided essential evidence that James Watson and Francis Crick used to build the double-helix model of DNA.


• Overlooked: Franklin’s contribution was largely ignored during her lifetime. Watson and Crick received the Nobel Prize in 1962 (along with Maurice Wilkins, who worked with Franklin), but Franklin was not acknowledged, partly because she had passed away in 1958 (Nobel Prizes are not awarded posthumously). Recent efforts have aimed to credit her pivotal role.


• Ada Lovelace (1815–1852)


• Contribution: Often considered the world's first computer programmer, Lovelace worked with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine. She published extensive notes on the machine, including the first algorithm intended for computer processing, and foresaw computers' potential beyond calculations to manipulate symbols and create music.


• Overlooked: For many years, her work was dismissed as merely transcribing Babbage's ideas. It was only in the late 20th century that her contributions as a visionary in computing were widely recognized.


• Mary Anning (1799–1847)


• Contribution: Anning was a self-taught paleontologist who discovered numerous significant fossils, including the first complete Ichthyosaur and Plesiosaur skeletons, which helped shape early ideas about extinction and prehistoric life.


• Overlooked: As a working-class woman, she was excluded from scientific societies like the Geological Society of London, which did not admit women at the time. Her discoveries were often credited to male scientists who purchased her fossils, and she received little recognition during her lifetime.


• Lise Meitner (1878–1968)


• Contribution: Meitner, an Austrian physicist, co-discovered nuclear fission with Otto Hahn. She explained the process of fission theoretically after conducting experiments with Hahn, which led to the development of nuclear energy and atomic weapons.


• Overlooked: Hahn received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1944 for the discovery of fission, while Meitner was excluded, possibly due to gender bias and her status as a Jewish refugee during World War II. Her contributions were later acknowledged, but not with a Nobel.


• Katherine Johnson (1918–2020)


• Contribution: A mathematician at NASA, Johnson calculated trajectories for the Apollo 11 mission that landed humans on the Moon. Her work was critical to the success of the U.S. space program during the Space Race.


• Overlooked: As an African American woman working in a segregated environment, Johnson’s contributions were not widely recognized until the 2016 film Hidden Figures brought her story (and those of other Black female mathematicians like Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson) to public attention.


• Hedy Lamarr (1914–2000)


• Contribution: Known primarily as a Hollywood actress, Lamarr co-invented a frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology during World War II to secure military communications. This invention later became the basis for modern wireless technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.


• Overlooked: Her invention was dismissed at the time, and she was not taken seriously as a scientist due to her status as an actress. Her technological contributions were only recognized decades later.

Barriers Women Faced in Science

Women in science history encountered numerous barriers that limited their opportunities, recognition, and progress. These barriers were deeply rooted in societal norms, institutional policies, and cultural attitudes.

• Limited Access to Education


• Until the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many universities and scientific institutions did not admit women. Even when they did, women were often excluded from certain fields or advanced studies. For example, Marie Curie had to attend underground classes in Poland because women were barred from formal higher education there at the time.


• Women who sought education often had to rely on informal learning, self-study, or mentorship, as was the case with Mary Anning.


• Gender Stereotypes and Societal Expectations


• Women were often expected to prioritize marriage and family over careers. This societal pressure deterred many from pursuing or continuing scientific work. For instance, Ada Lovelace faced challenges balancing her intellectual pursuits with societal expectations of women in the 19th century.


• Women were frequently seen as incapable of rigorous scientific thought, a stereotype that undermined their credibility. This attitude contributed to the dismissal of their work, as seen with Hedy Lamarr.


• Exclusion from Professional Networks and Recognition


• Scientific societies, such as the Royal Society in the UK, often excluded women until the 20th century. This barred women from publishing in prestigious journals, presenting their work, or receiving awards.


• The "Matilda Effect," a term coined by historian Margaret W. Rossiter, describes the systematic underrecognition of women’s contributions in science, often attributing their work to male colleagues. Examples include Rosalind Franklin and Lise Meitner, whose male collaborators received disproportionate credit.


• Discrimination and Harassment


• Women in science faced overt discrimination, including unequal pay, lack of promotions, and hostile work environments. For example, Katherine Johnson and other Black women at NASA worked in segregated facilities and were often passed over for promotions despite their critical contributions.


• Sexual harassment and dismissive attitudes further marginalized women in academic and research settings, as documented in later accounts of women entering STEM fields in the 20th century.


• Lack of Role Models and Mentorship


• With few women visible in science, younger generations lacked role models to inspire and guide them. Those who did break through, like Marie Curie (the first woman to win a Nobel Prize), were often seen as exceptions rather than the norm, perpetuating the idea that science was a male domain.


• Intersectional Challenges


• Women of color faced additional barriers due to racism and classism, compounding gender discrimination. For instance, Katherine Johnson and her colleagues at NASA endured both gender and racial segregation, making their achievements even more remarkable.

Progress and Ongoing Challenges

In recent decades, efforts to recognize women’s contributions to science have gained momentum. Organizations, scholarships, and initiatives aim to highlight forgotten figures and support women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Books like Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and movements to rename awards or institutions after women scientists (e.g., the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science) are steps toward rectifying historical oversights.

However, challenges remain. Women are still underrepresented in STEM, particularly in leadership roles and certain disciplines like physics and engineering. Gender biases in hiring, publishing, and funding persist, and the gender gap in recognition (e.g., fewer women receiving Nobel Prizes) continues to be a concern.

Conclusion

The overlooked contributions of women in science history highlight both their incredible resilience and the systemic barriers they faced. By acknowledging figures like Rosalind Franklin, Ada Lovelace, and Katherine Johnson, we not only honor their legacies but also inspire future generations to challenge inequities. Addressing ongoing barriers in STEM is crucial to ensuring that talent, regardless of gender, can flourish and contribute to humanity’s scientific progress. If you'd like to dive deeper into the contributions of a specific woman or era in science history, let me know!