In recent years, there has been an obvious push to encourage women to pursue majors and careers in STEM fields. Scholarship initiatives are given and supporting communities are being built. However, a problem persists at the societal level – people still do not see women to be scientists. Growing up, we watched "Bill Nye the Science Guy"; now, we watch Neil deGrasse Tyson. In textbooks we are taught about Einstein, Tesla, and Newton - there are few if any female scientist role models. The stereotype persists and is ingrained deep into our society. Society perceives the role of a scientist as a masculine and male role.
Science is necessary for society to progress and solve its many problems. From cancer research to extracting oil from algae,
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In science, there are very few if any female role models available for prospectful female students. Ingrained into the minds of the people are Einstein and Newton. Scientists popularized by television and media include "Bill Nye the Science Guy" and Neil deGrasse Tyson; Dr. Amy Fowler from the television series The Big Bang Theory is a popular female scientists in media, but her physical attributes are still portrayed as masculine with her lower voice and shapeless clothing. One major role model for many female scientists is Marie Curie. As explained by my interviewee, Dr. …show more content…
Science holds the key to many of human's problems but such problems cannot be solved when many possible problem solvers are being suppressed from solving the problems. Some small possible first steps to broaching this problem includes emphasizing to students the "ways that science can improve the quality of life of living things" to encourage a greater interest in science and spending more time learning about the few but influential historical female scientists (Blickenstaff). The unrelenting self reinforcing stereotypes of scientists needs to be broken in order to make progress in this chain of bias. Throughout history, females have been objectified as child bearing tools and incapable of doing intellectual work. Showcasing female scientists in media – such as Dr. Amy Fowler from the television series The Big Bang Theory and Joan Watson from the television series Elementary – is a great first step in breaking the barrier ideas that only males are scientists. Dr. Peng associated this societal problem with a Chinese proverb where "it only takes a few decades to grow a tree. If you take good care of it, it will be a strong tree. But it takes hundreds of years to build a society, and even longer to change it." This embodies her idea that changing the mindsets of the people in this society will take a long time, but, like watering a tree, diligence and persistence is needed for any true societal changes to be
Rossiter, Margaret W. (1982). Women Scientists in America: Struggles and Strategies to 1940. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press
If women lack intelligence and cannot be a scientist, then what should they be? If they can’t act intelligent, then how should they act? Woman should stick to their society roles and stay away from thinking the way a male is expected to think. A woman thinking scientifically is considered to be thinking like a man (Keller 77). Keller’s statement explains that science is considered to be a male subject. It is not appropriate for females to think scientifically. Women then begin to get treated differently because they are not meeting society’s
Maurice Wilkins: This scientist is seen as somewhat sexist, because he does not believe in the potential of Rosalind’s scientific abilities. At the same time, he seemed to be dedicated to work, but Rosalind seems to do a majority of the work.
Many women scientist upheld and defended their positions as learned, scientific individuals. Marie Meurdrac, a French scientist, in a foreword to a publication stated clearly that women’s and men’s minds, if thought in the same manner would hold no difference.(Doc 2) Similarly, Dorothea Erxleben understood and explained why men and women alike look down on her for studying science because they feel that it is an insult.(Doc 9) Her experiences as a female scientist led her to truly grasp why her persecutors acted as they did towards her although this document shows no signs that she thinks the same. Maria Sibylla Merian, a German entomologist, discussed some of her scientific practices that encompass her dedication and fascination with science.(Doc 5) Another example of this whole-hearted dedication comes from Marquis...
Female scientists such as Maria Merian and Marquise Emilie du Chatelet had an impact on western science, demonstrating how women were capable of contributing to the sciences despite society’s opinions. Merian published her book Wonderful Metamorphoses and Special Nourishment of Caterpillars during a time when women were criticized for publishing books and demonstrates how society was not able to completely repress women in science (Doc 5). Marquise Emmilie du Chatelet’s letter to the Marquis Jean Francois de Saint-Lambert also demonstrates how women refused to be repressed by society. She refuted his reproach of her translating Newton’s Principia, a translation so thorough it is still used today (Doc 11). Some men in the sciences also gained a respect for women and their contributions. Not all men at the time believed women were incapable of learning at a university level like Junker did. Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician, even went as far as to state “women of elevated mind advanced knowledge more properly than do men.” As a philosopher Leibniz likely thought beyond society’s opinions, which is why he did not conform (Doc 7). Johannes Hevelius and Gottfried Krich disregarded the notion that collaborating with women was seen as embarrassing, and both collaborated with their wives (Doc 4 and Doc
Society seems to be divided between the idea if science is more harmful than helpful. We live in a world where humans depend on science and technology to improve important aspects of society, such as medical machinery, which supports the fact that science is more of a friend than a foe. Science is advancing every day. The United States has come a long way with its ongoing developments, giving individuals a chance to improve society as a whole. Not only does the United States benefit from such growth, but every modernized country does so as well. Through science and technology, individuals learn from past endeavors and apply it to present and future projects, paving the way for new discoveries and efficient enhancements
For a long time, women’s potential in Science was little to none. However, over the years, it has now changed because of the outstanding breakthroughs and encouraging accomplishments women have done through the years. It is because of them, women’s potential in Science and other realms of studies has now evolved with more understandings and discoveries. It is for the reason of Maria Mitchell, one of the first female astronomers to be recognized in Science, that women’s potential were essentially respected. Her discoveries during her time as a student, a teacher, and an astronomer paved the way for many others, not just in Science, but also for woman’s rights and potential to be seen.
When most people think of the Scientific Revolution, they think of scientists such as Galileo, Newton, Brahe, and Boyle. However, many people do not even know about the many women who played a vital role in the scientific advancements of this period. Even when these women were alive, most of society either ignored them or publicly disapproved their unladylike behavior. Because of this, these women were often forgotten from history, and very little is known about the majority of them. Although their names rarely appear in history books, the female scientists of the Scientific Revolution still impacted the world of science in several ways. In fact, all of the scientists listed above had a woman playing an influential role assisting them in their research. However, assisting men in their studies was not the only role open to women; several women performed experimentation and research on their own, or advancing science in some other way, even though the society of the time looked down upon and even resisted their studies.
In “The Nature and Necessity of Scientific Research” it says, “they are the source of the methods, problem-field, and standards of solution accepted by any mature scientific community at any given time.” These new discoveries can lead then to advancements and as a result can lead them to build a better society. Human beings will be able to reconstruct a better institutional framework which will bring them a prosperous and happy
Pollack, Eileen. “Why Are There Still So Few Women in Science?” The New York Times. The New York Times, 05 Oct. 2013. Web. 05 Mar. 2014.
Science has played a significant role in the development of society. Other world views, such as Hum...
STEM is best known as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM for many years has been primarily seen as and stereotyped into a masculine work field. But as of recent years, while it expands, more and more women have been rising in these fields. However, there is still a tremendous gender gap between men and women in these fields and areas of work. The gender gap between men and women in STEM is alive and well. There is no denying that the gender gap between men and women in STEM is immense. But there instead are many sufficient reasons as to why there is such a huge gap between men and women within in fields. Some probable causes for the lack of women seen in these areas are biased towards women, unconscious bias girls receive
In many cases, women’s achievements are measured according to male oriented standards. I would like to argue with a more diverse approach to this cause. If humanity is comprised of both men and women, and we are equally dependent on each other for humanity’s survival, why are men and women not viewed as equals? These old attitudes are drilled into us from birth. If boys were taught mutual respect as they grew up, gender equality becomes a natural way of life. In the same way girls would need to be taught to set high goals; that they can reach as high as humanly possible. Unfortunately, typically male values and traditions have, over time, shaped the culture in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) fields. This has created, in many ways, a hostile learning and working environment for women. From time immemorial, women have been regarde...
Is Scientific Progress Inevitable? The Development Study of Advances in Technology According to the article “is scientific progress inevitable?” we can understand that advances in technology are in the order of nature and advances in technology are regular. This article may expand many ideas about the progress and development of technology. Technology must be progress, but the progress of scientific discovery may not be able to promote social development in a short time.
Science affects the world in many different ways. With the technologies that have been discovered we can now tell how warm or cold it will be for the next week, we will know when a tornado, hurricane, eruption or any other sorts of natural disasters will occur before they actually happen. This also helps out all communities. My family loves to travel, and if airplanes weren’t invented we wouldn’t be able to go to many places. We also need microwaves, stoves and ovens in order for us to eat supper, and fridges and freezers for us to keep our food in. We also enjoy watching television and movies, and I love talking on the telephone and listening to music. Without science none of these things would be possible.