1. printed by www.postersession.com Women and Science The Controversy Dealing with Whether Women should be Accepted as Scientists or Technicians Women scientists have made many great contributions to the scientific world. A great number of famous women scientists that have changed the way people do science today, such as Rosalind Franklin, Marie Curie, Jane Goodall, and Maria Mitchell. These women did not have it easy. Many controversies about women involved in the science world put a bad taste in the mouths of men and in society as a whole. In fact, past events show that women hardly ever got the approval to succeed anything; everything was considered to be a “man’s job.” In times before, women had no business being involved in work industries, politics, or education. All women were good for was to take care of the house, the man and their children, and keep their nose out of things other than that. History shows many examples of women being belittled in not only science, but in many other areas. Anything that involved logic, education, politics, or money was generally none of a woman’s business. However, as time change, women were beginning to get small cracks to slide through to finally get their feet wet in all of these areas. Voting rights were pasted in the early 1900s, so politics were no longer only for men. Then the desire for women wanting to be their own person came into full effect. Women started pressing hard for things they wanted. In science and technology, women had the most struggle. A decent example of a woman struggling to stay in the game is none other than Rosalind Franklin. Female scientist, very smart and enduring, struggled to keep her place as a well-respected female at King’s College in the 1950s. As a woman, she did not want to appear weak, so she put on a constant serious attitude towards the men, so that they would respect her and never treat her as someone who’s inferior to them. Rosalind had a lot to do with the discovery of the DNA structure, but because she was female, she did not receive recognition till after her death. The only issue that remains with me is the issue of Lawrence Summers at the NBER Conference in 2005. He boldly commented on the idea of having women scientists, and as a politician, he should watch what he says, to stay clear of offending his voters. He basically stated that with the increasing rate of women in science, it is the reason why there is such an imbalance in the society. The boundaries of where women are “suppose” to be positioned in the world are breaking, and many like Summers does not approve. Koerth-Baker, M. (n.d.). Women scientists on the debate over women in science - Boing Boing. Boing Boing. Retrieved November 22, 2010, from http://boingboing.net/2010/06/11/women-scientists- on.html Lawrence Summers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Summers Lewis, J. J. (n.d.). Famous Women Scientists. Women's History - Comprehensive Women's History Research Guide. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from http://womenshistory.about.com/od/biographies/a/women_science.htm Phillips, A. L., & Phillips, G. M. (2010). The Persistence Of Traditional Gender Stereotypes: Evidence From The Distribution Of Academic Honors At A Female-Majority University. American Journal of Business Education, 3(10), 45-53. Retrieved November 20, 2010, from the Proquest database. Piper, A. (n.d.). "Light on a Dark Lady">. CONTRIBUTIONS OF 20TH CENTURY WOMEN TO PHYSICS. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from http://cwp.library.ucla.edu/articles/franklin/piper.html Schiebinger, L., & Gilmartin, S. K. (n.d.). Housework Is an Academic Issue. unknown. Retrieved November 20, 2010, from www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/witexhibit/pdf/wit_timeline.pdf Senger, L. (n.d.). Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine. The National Academies. Retrieved November 28, 2010, from sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/cwsem/index.htm Tuana, N. (n.d.). Feminism & science - Google Books.Google Books. Retrieved November 28, 2010, from http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=gQQkAvU4S1oC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=scienc e+gender+bias&ots=Y3srARO_8h&sig=vnn0gqVCAZC9- W5wskiNmJVBmMg#v=onepage&q=science%20gender%20bias&f=false Watson, J. D. (1968). The double helix; a personal account of the discovery of the structure of DNA, ([1st ed.). New York: Atheneum. I am not for women and against men; I am for both. I agree with the idea that it takes both minds to figure out certain things in the scientific world. Like Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilson. Together, their discoveries and contributions identified the structure of DNA: the blue-print of life. How fascinating it that? If the world would come to terms with the reason why men and women were made as two different creatures, things would be less controversial. Men and women should work together. If everyone thought one way, the world would be hopeless. What if everyone thought one way and that way was the wrong way? Who would make it alright? Both men and women scientists are needed for a time such as this. A time when discoveries are around every corner, and opportunities are at every door. An interesting issue that got my attention was the article of women named Londa Schiebinger and Shannon Gilmartin. These two women are pro women in science fields. In fact, they say that if you have the brain power, why waste it? Many women sit up in homes being house wives, when they have a desire to get out and do something with themselves. It is a shame how society makes it seem like women should not have a choice of the matter. If you want to be a stay-home mother, then be that. However, if yiu want to be a scientists and stay in the labs, do it! The two argue how stay-at-home wives were the ones who made sure the scientists had clean coats, labs, materials and tools. This does not seem fair. Schiebinger and Gilmartin argue saying that if women started in the lab, why can’t they stay in the lab, only now they are contributing to the science world. INTRODUCTION PRO CON HISTORICAL CONTROVERSY SUMMARY WORKS CITED Pearl Webb Dr. Williams NS214 November 29, 2010