Margaret W. Rossiter (1944 - 2025)
American historian of science at Cornell University.
In 1993, she coined the term The Matilda Effect to describe
the systematic erasure of women's achievements in science
over the centuries and the theft and attribution of
their work and discoveries to male colleagues.
She named it in honour of suffragist and abolitionist
Matilda Joslyn Gage who had sounded the alarm
about this practice more than a century earlier.
Following decades of research, her 3-volume work,
Women Scientists in America, restored women to
their rightful place in the history of science.
Her books inspired programs and policies which ensure
that today’s women in STEM are properly
credited, published, and remembered.
Glad you're back. And this is a great start, the Matilda Effect being vital to understanding and remedying a core male suprematist practice. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome!
ReplyDeleteGood to have this blog back ! Jayne
ReplyDeleteThank you for this.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for women who speak up!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful post to start back with. We will need strong woman in this day and age and she is an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI was just reading something recently (here?) about researchers (guys) that were organizing papers and if the paper was written by a woman they would throw it away. I wonder how much research was lost.
ReplyDeleteTerrible to even know
DeleteCodex: Doing this on my blog for march off and on.
ReplyDelete@ Codex -- Great way to celebrate Women's History Month!
DeleteThanks for showcasing another women who was new to me.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to more of these!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much sharing this, Debra.
ReplyDeleteWow! Is that ever true. Men love to take credit for women's accomplishments. Have you read Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus?
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
@ Janie Junebug -- I haven't read it, no, but I know of it -- very highly regarded. I believe a movie was made from it as well?
DeleteIt was made into a short series on AppleTV that was very good. Princess watched it with me. She is quite selective when it comes to movies and shows. I think she liked it because one of the stars is a dog.
DeleteIn recent years I've heard of quite a few women of science whose achievements were claimed by males.
ReplyDeleteVery powerful and beautifully nailed dear Debra
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me familiar to such great personality who tried to unveil the struggle and achievements of women scientists in America. I will seek for such example in other cultures too because it’s very crucial point you have mentioned today ♥️
Love this post. Margaret Rossiter has done us a tremendous service. It's ridiculous how long it takes to rectify entrenched, systematic misogyny. I heard something the other day (can't remember where, dang it) and the reporter said that Watson and Crick 'collaborated' with 'someone else in their lab'. I saw red! They didn't even mention Rosalind Franklin.
ReplyDelete