Chapter 1: The Erasure of Women from Scientific History

The remarkable women in science didn't disappear; rather, they were systematically excluded from historical narratives. If we rely solely on history books, one might conclude that the scientific realm is predominantly a male domain. These texts often present a timeline filled with white men, occasionally interrupted by a token female figure, who, while deserving of recognition, is often noted for her rarity rather than her achievements.

While researching notable female inventors and scientists, I discovered a pattern: many women made significant contributions, yet their male colleagues frequently claimed the accolades. This phenomenon is known as "The Matilda Effect," a term coined by science historian Martha Rossiter. She named it after Matilda J. Gage, a suffragette who highlighted this issue in her 1870 essay "Woman as Inventor."

Throughout history, numerous women scientists have fallen prey to this effect. One notable case is Dr. Lise Meitner, a Jewish scientist who fled Nazi Germany. Although she played a crucial role in the advancement of nuclear technology, it was her male counterpart who received the Nobel Prize for their collaborative work.

Despite Meitner's name gaining attention in the aftermath of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, she was not involved in that tragic event. Instead, she was pivotal in the research leading to the discovery of nuclear fission. Yet, history credits her colleague Otto Hahn, who received the 1945 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and was celebrated as the discoverer of nuclear fission, overshadowing Meitner's significant contributions.

Another instance is Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who identified pulsars in space, yet her colleague Antony Hewish was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1974. Hewish has shown indifference toward the contributions of Bell Burnell, dismissively equating her role to that of a lookout in Columbus's discovery of America.

The legacy of Alice Ball also exemplifies this issue. Dr. Arthur Dean appropriated her research on leprosy treatment, which should rightfully bear her name. Alice Ball was the first woman and the first African American to earn a master’s degree from the University of Hawaii and became its first female and African American chemistry professor. Tragically, she passed away at just 24, before she could publish her groundbreaking findings.

The academic world remains heavily skewed toward male dominance, a reality that continues to perpetuate this issue. Despite an increasing number of female university students, the majority of professors remain male. The struggle to ascend the academic ladder continues for women, compounded by systemic sexism and gender disparities.

Bridget Turner Kelly articulates this struggle, noting the difficulty in eliminating these ingrained inequities. For instance, Jo Handelsman at Yale University conducted an experiment demonstrating that professors were more likely to favor a male applicant over a female one, despite identical qualifications, often offering the male candidate a higher salary.

Research by Jason Sheltzer from MIT indicates that elite researchers lean toward hiring male scientists, which creates a bottleneck that hinders women's advancement in scientific roles. This imbalance contributes to the overrepresentation of white male scientists in public discourse, as they dominate media coverage and interviews.

Moreover, many women hesitate to pursue careers in science due to the societal expectation of prioritizing family over professional aspirations. Although universities are beginning to offer childcare services and support programs for women in STEM, the challenges remain significant. Initiatives like Gage aim to highlight the accomplishments of female scientists.

In 2019, not a single female scientist was among the Nobel Prize winners, underscoring a stark disparity: over the past 120 years, only 48 out of 844 Nobel laureates have been women.

Nevertheless, as more women become involved in scientific research, there is hope for change. I am optimistic that this trend will lead to an increase in female Nobel laureates, ultimately eradicating the Matilda Effect.

Let’s collectively work to bring to light the groundbreaking achievements of female scientists from the past, present, and future.

The first video titled "The Matilda Effect: Where Did All the Great Women Go?" by Mariia Moshkivska explores the historical erasure of women from scientific achievements, shedding light on their overlooked contributions.

The second video, "Fantastically Great Women - Where Do You Wanna Go," celebrates the stories of remarkable women and their aspirations in the field of science, encouraging future generations to follow in their footsteps.