Throughout history, women have often been sidelined and their contributions overlooked, particularly in fields like science and technology. Societal biases have, for too long, cast a shadow on their achievements, with credit sometimes unjustly given to men. Let’s shed light on some remarkable inventions and theories where women’s brilliance was overshadowed.
Esther Lederberg: Microbial Genetics
Esther Lederberg was a pioneering figure in microbial genetics. Despite facing significant barriers as a woman in science during the mid-20th century, she made groundbreaking contributions. She was the first to isolate the lambda phage and, together with her husband, discovered replica plating, a crucial technique in genetics. However, only her husband, Joshua Lederberg, received the Nobel Prize for their collaborative work.
Jocelyn Bell Burnell: Pulsars
Jocelyn Bell Burnell, while a Ph.D. student at Cambridge, made an extraordinary discovery in astrophysics. In 1967, she detected unusual radio signals that turned out to be from pulsars – rapidly rotating neutron stars. Despite her pivotal role in identifying and researching these celestial objects, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to her supervisors, Antony Hewish and Martin Ryle, in 1974, without acknowledging her contribution.
The ENIAC Programmers: First Electronic Computer
During World War II, six women – Kathleen McNulty, Frances Bilas, Betty Jean Jennings, Ruth Lichterman, Elizabeth Snyder, and Marlyn Wescoff – played a crucial role in operating the ENIAC, one of the first electronic computers. These women were responsible for programming and troubleshooting the machine, enabling it to perform complex calculations. However, the media coverage often overlooked their contributions, focusing instead on the male engineers who built the hardware.
Nettie Stevens: Sex Chromosomes
Nettie Stevens, a pioneering geneticist, made a groundbreaking discovery regarding sex determination. Through her meticulous research on mealworms, she identified that sex was determined by chromosomes, specifically the X and Y chromosomes. Despite her crucial findings, credit was often given to E.B. Wilson, a more established scientist working on similar research.
Mary Anderson: Windshield Wipers
Mary Anderson invented the windshield wiper in 1903 after observing the difficulties drivers faced while removing snow from their windshields. She designed a manually operated, blade-like device that improved visibility. Although she patented her invention, she struggled to find manufacturers willing to produce it. Years later, after her patent expired, others profited from her idea, often receiving the credit for it.
Elizabeth Magie: Monopoly
Elizabeth Magie created “The Landlord’s Game” in 1903, a board game designed to illustrate the economic consequences of monopolies and land grabbing. She patented the game in 1904, but it didn’t gain widespread popularity. In the 1930s, Charles Darrow adapted the game and sold it to Parker Brothers as “Monopoly.” Darrow received the credit and financial success, while Magie’s original creation was largely forgotten.
Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu: Law of Parity
Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu, a brilliant physicist, played a crucial role in the Manhattan Project and later conducted experiments that disproved the law of parity. Her work had significant implications for particle physics. However, the Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery was awarded to her colleagues, Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen Ning Yang, without acknowledging her experimental contributions.
Lise Meitner: Nuclear Fission
Lise Meitner, a brilliant physicist, was instrumental in the discovery of nuclear fission. She collaborated with Otto Hahn for many years, providing the theoretical explanations for Hahn’s experimental results. However, due to her Jewish heritage and the political climate in Nazi Germany, her name was omitted from the publication, and Hahn alone received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1944.
Alice Augusta Ball: The Ball Method (The Cure for Leprosy)
Alice Augusta Ball developed an injectable form of chaulmoogra oil, a treatment for leprosy that was previously difficult to administer. Her “Ball Method” revolutionized the treatment of leprosy, but she tragically died at a young age. A colleague, Arthur Dean, published her findings without giving her credit, and the method was initially attributed to him.
Ada Harris: Hair Straightener
Ada Harris, an African-American teacher, invented a tong hair straightener designed specifically for straightening curly hair in the late 1880s. While she obtained a patent for her invention, the credit for hair straightening devices often went to Marcel Grateau, who invented the curling iron. Harris’s specific contribution to straightening technology was frequently overlooked.
These stories underscore the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of women in science, technology, and other fields. By acknowledging their achievements, we can work towards a more equitable and inclusive future.
What are your thoughts on these overlooked contributions? Share your comments below!
