#IDWGS Essay - Without Women and Girl in Science, We Would Lose Human Creativity by Aaradhya Priya

"Without women in science, we would lose human creativity and the ability that half of the world’s population possess, which is so critical to accelerate progress of science.”

International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Addressing and Transforming the Gender Gap

Persistent under-representation and perpetuated stereotypes have long plagued women's involvement in science. There is a global consensus that both science and gender equality are essential in reaching goals outlined in the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but at present, less than 30 percent of researchers worldwide are women.

Some of the most important figures in the history of human progress shared several things in common: they were women, scientists and invisible. This last attribute was acquired by seeing their work and contribution to science attributed to their male colleagues.

Throughout human history, in the name of science and philosophy, such serious blunders as the difference in intelligence between genders have been defended, which has hindered the intellectual and professional development of women. Aristotle was convinced that the male brain was larger and therefore superior to the female brain; a conviction that persisted. St. Augustine said: "They look like men, they are almost men, but they are so inferior that they are not even capable of reproducing the species, it is men who beget the children"; and which continued for many years. The sociologist Gustave Le Bon is famous for saying: "Women represent the lowest form of human evolution".

International Day of Women and Girls in Science is commemorated every 11 February.

Despite their historical context, it is hard to believe that great philosophical and scientific minds, whose contributions in their fields have endured to the present day, would make such comparisons between men and women. It is also strange that two fields focused on the evolution and progression of human beings, philosophy and science, should make such statements; and it is even more surprising that today, in the 21st century, it is still necessary to talk about the "Matilda effect", the prejudice against recognising the achievements of women scientists, whose work is often attributed to their male colleagues. But who said girls aren't scientists?

In many areas conceived within the patriarchal system, not only in science, prestige and recognition are directed towards men. Thus, the problem of inequality, whatever the field, "is a question that goes beyond the strictly cultural, it is a question of power, of loss of privileges"

In the academic environment of science, the episodes whereby women have become the hidden figures are once again too many.

Women, long in the shadows, have been pioneers in science since the dawn of time. Hypatia of Alexandria is considered the first scientist in history. Her contributions in the field of mathematics and astronomy and the historical framework of her assassination in a male-dominated world, more than 1600 years ago, made her an icon for all those women who succeeded her.

From Agnodice in the 4th century B.C., the first known female physician in the history of the world to Vera Rubin in 1970, the astronomer who saw what no one else saw, too many women did not get the recognition they deserved in their time: Mileva Maric, physicist relegated under the shadow of her then husband, Albert Einstein, with whom she worked on the theory of motion, but only he would be remembered and awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921;

Lise Meitner discovered nuclear fission with her partner, but it was he who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1944 without any mention of her; Betty Snyder Holberton, Jean Jennings Bartik, Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, Marlyn Wescoff Meltzer, Ruth Lichterman Teitelbaum and Frances Bilas Spence do not appear in the history books of computing, but they were the programmers of the ENIAC machine. Those who did go down in history were the two engineers on the team; Rosalind Franklin was instrumental in the discovery of DNA in 1953, but the Nobel in Medicine went to her male colleagues.

It is necessary to highlight the case of Marie Curie, of whom little more can be said about her renowned figure, except that Pierre Curie, her husband, threatened to reject the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics when the selection committee intended to honour only him and Henri Becquerel and deny Marie the corresponding recognition because she was a woman. This fact is perhaps proof that, if all men had shown the same deference to their fellow female researchers as Pierre Curie, the Matilda effect would probably not exist today. But it does exist.

many women have contributed to the history of scientific, and therefore human, progress without receiving the prestige they deserve for their work. However, one does not have to look that far back to see the consequences of this effect among women pursuing careers in the sciences. "The sciences and the role of women in them is relatively recent given the lack of access to education, lack of incentives and social and family pressure"

It is time for a change. Humanity cannot afford to waste brilliant minds on social - or any other management - issues. It is necessary, then, not only to recognise the work of the great women who led our way and whose careers were committed to transforming society, but also to revise the patterns imposed in the official scientific discourse, rewarding and recognising scientific contributions for their importance and not for the gender of the person behind them. Because, at the end of the day, talent has no gender.

In the vast expanse of human history, amidst the swirling cosmos of scientific inquiry, there exists a treasure trove of brilliance, innovation, and, dare I say, a touch of feminine mystique. Yes, you heard that right! For too long, the narrative of science has been dominated by tales of rugged male intellects, but let me tell you, my friends, the real heroes of the scientific saga are often found wearing skirts, not lab coats.

The world is at war, men are off fighting battles, and who do we find holding down the fort back home? None other than the resilient women and girls, donning their metaphorical utility belts, ready to tackle any challenge that comes their way. From fixing machinery to managing farms, these multitasking marvels proved that when the going gets tough, the tough get going—no Y chromosome required.

But here's the kicker: while the history books may have overlooked their contributions, these unsung heroines were laying the groundwork for a seismic shift in the scientific landscape. You see, women and girls possess a unique blend of superpowers—empathy, intuition, and emotional intelligence—that are like secret ingredients in the recipe for scientific success. Take Rosalind Franklin, for example. Her pioneering work in X-ray diffraction images laid the foundation for our understanding of DNA's structure, yet her name was often relegated to the footnotes of history.

Fast forward to today, and the story of women and girls in science leadership is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Dr. Jane Goodall, the real-life Dr. Doolittle, shattered stereotypes with her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees, showing us that when it comes to understanding the animal kingdom, women are a force to be reckoned with. And let's not forget Dr. Vandana Shiva, the eco-warrior whose advocacy for sustainable agriculture practices has earned her international acclaim. With her holistic approach to sustainability, she's proving that saving the planet is not just a job for the boys.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My Name is Aaradhya Priya. I am from City-Deoghar, State- Jharkhand. I read in class 9th in Geeta Devi DAV Public School Deoghar. I believe my strength is my attitude, and Ilike to take up challenges and think to accept both success and failure in a balanced way to move forward. I always challenge myself to improve my progress and steady growth. Thank you for providing us with such a excellent opportunity to introduce our talent.