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Dr. Diana L. Fagan, Women in Science Program Director

Scientists were almost exclusively male until early in the twentieth century. Strong cultural biases existed that defined scientific research as not only socially inappropriate for women, but also probably impossible for them to accomplish as well¹. These cultural biases were perpetuated by the stereotypical images of exclusively white male scientists that were presented in the news media at the time. Women were also largely excluded from higher education of any kind, as it was felt that education would not help, and would in fact hinder them in their more important goal of being a wife and mother². Women’s colleges were first opened in the United States in the late 1800’s.  Change came fairly quickly in the United States, with forty three percent of the United States universities becoming co-educational by 1890. However, European universities lagged behind, with women first being granted university degrees only many years later. Even with the universities opening to women students, the atmosphere was often openly hostile. At co-educational facilities, women were not allowed to mix with the men and were often not allowed access to designated public areas as indispensable to scientific research as the library. Once completing their education, many women were left with only two choices, marriage, or a very low-paying teaching position. And, if they were successful in finding a job, they were often excluded from professional societies.

            Fortunately, due to a love of science and a passion for knowledge, women persevered, and their discoveries have changed our perceptions of  the world around us. Unfortunately, their contributions have often not been acknowledged. One of the most important discoveries of this century was the discovery of the molecular structure of DNA. Most of us have heard of two of the men who received a Nobel Prize for this discovery, James Watson and Francis Crick. How many of us have heard of Rosalind Franklin? Her work in X-ray crystallography was considered crucial to the discovery of the structure of DNA. Yet, her name is not found in many biology textbooks.

            Participation of women in the sciences has improved, with the number of women awarded bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering being roughly equal to those awarded to men. However, the number of women receiving doctoral degrees in science and engineering is approximately 30-40 percent of those awarded to men (www.nsf.gov/, see Division of Science Resources Studies).  There are many reasons for the continued low representation of women in the sciences. Women are less likely to receive encouragement to study the sciences and information about careers in the sciences. Due to the low representation of women in many fields of science and engineering, women are often not exposed to positive role models of women enjoying successful careers in science. At Youngstown State University, two projects have been developed by women in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the Women’s Studies Program to provide positive role models and affirmative experiences in science to women. The Women in Science Career Day is offered each year to area middle and high school students. At this workshop, the girls meet with women from the community who work in scientific fields and participate in interactive laboratory demonstrations in various areas of science. In addition, a General Education course (Special Topics and Electives) has been developed to introduce students to various scientific fields, to learn about the women who contributed to the development of those disciplines, and to discuss the societal and ethical implications of the scientific knowledge. It is hoped that Youngstown State University will continue to play an active part in encouraging women to experience the enjoyment of science and to enter into careers in science.

¹MC LaFollette. Making Science Our Own: Public Images of Science 1910-1955 (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1990) , p. 78.

²M Rayner-Canham and G Rayner-Canham. Women in Chemistry: Their Changing Roles from Alchemical Times to the Mid-Twentieth Century (American Chemical Society and Chemical Heritage Foundation, 1998), p. 43.