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The History of Overlooked Women in STEM
If you haven’t heard of the Matilda Effect by name, you have almost certainly heard of it in practice. The term describes a persistent bias in which the contributions of women in STEM are overlooked, downplayed, or credited to their male colleagues, or in some cases erased entirely.
Coined in 1993 by science historian Margaret W. Rossiter, the phrase honours suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage, who first documented the pattern back in the 19th century. Yet the roots of the phenomenon stretch far deeper into history, woven through centuries of scientific discovery and innovation by pioneering women in STEM.
Ada Lovelace and the birth of computing
Perhaps the most well-known of these pioneers today is Ada Lovelace. Although she created what is now recognised as the world’s first computer program, the achievement was long attributed to her collaborator Charles Babbage. Despite receiving little recognition in her lifetime, Lovelace’s groundbreaking contribution has since been celebrated as a significant milestone in the history of computing and in the story of women in STEM.
But Ada is just one of many.
Trota of Salerno: Early Medicine and Women’s Health
In the 12th century, Trota of Salerno was an innovative physician, one of the first medical practitioners to document women’s health and the incorporation of exercise, good diet, low stress and cleanliness into daily living. Initially her work was credited to her husband and son and later misattributed to a male scholar. Even today, many of her discoveries remain under-credited, reflecting the long-standing challenges faced by women in STEM fields.
Nettie Stevens and the Discovery of Chromosomes
Jump ahead to the 19th century and we come across Nettie Stevens, who discovered the XY sex-determination system through her research into mealworms. Through this work, Stevens provided critical evidence for chromosomal theories of inheritance.
Thomas Hunt Morgan, a distinguished geneticist of the time, was credited with her work, and Nettie only received wider recognition in the late 1990s when she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Her story is another example of how contributions from women in STEM have historically been overlooked.
Rosalind Franklin and the Structure of DNA
Moving into the 20th century, we find Rosalind Franklin, a brilliant British scientist whose X-ray images were crucial to revealing the structure of DNA. Despite her pivotal work, the credit instead went to her fellow researchers Francis Crick, James Watson, and Maurice Wilkins, who used much of her work without permission or acknowledgement.
Crick, Watson, and Wilkins were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962, while Rosalind Franklin was never nominated, a stark reminder of how the achievements of women in STEM have often gone unrecognised.
Marie Curie and Recognition in Science
This was not the only time Nobel Prizes were awarded to men for work involving women’s contributions. Back in 1903, Marie Curie was almost excluded from sharing the award with her husband due to the fact she was a woman. Fortunately, her husband insisted she be added to the nomination. Many pioneering women in STEM were not so fortunate to have someone advocate for them.
Marie Tharp and the Mapping of the Ocean Floor
The Matilda Effect also appears in geology. In the 1950s, Marie Tharp, a geologist at Columbia University, transformed raw sonar data into detailed hand-drawn maps of the Atlantic seafloor. Her work revealed a deep rift running through the mid-Atlantic ridge, evidencing a spreading ocean floor and giving the first visual proof of plate tectonics.
Initially, this work was dismissed as “girl talk” by her research partner Bruce Heezen, who believed this was beyond the realms of a female mind. But her work was gradually proved by earthquake patterns and further data, and Heezen gladly added his name to her findings in 1977.
Although Maria produced the maps that reshaped modern geology, she was barred from travelling to sea due to discriminatory policies, and her full contributions were only honoured decades later with the Hubbard Medal in 2023, recognition that came far too late for one of the most influential women in STEM.
The Matilda Effect Today
Despite progress in gender equality, bias against women in STEM remains widespread. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are still male-dominated fields, which continues to fuel unconscious bias favouring men in research and leadership roles.
With fewer women in senior roles, there are fewer role models, mentors, and advocates for female scientists. Papers written by women are less likely to be cited than those written by men, further diminishing their visibility, and significant funding gaps continue to limit career progression for women in STEM.
Challenging the Bias
Organisations like Code First Girls are pushing back by giving women in STEM and aspiring technologists opportunities not previously available through free education, increasing visibility and recognition, and promoting women into leadership roles. Their work is crucial for changing the narrative and supporting the next generation of women in STEM.
Why Recognition Matters
The Matilda Effect serves as a stark reminder that crediting women for their work matters. By ignoring their breakthroughs and achievements, we discourage future generations of female scientists, mathematicians, technologists, and engineers.
Women have always been innovators. Supporting and recognising women in STEM ensures that future discoveries are not hidden, overlooked, or forgotten.
We need to be the game changers, the champions, the advocates.
We need to declare our brilliance and tell the world:
No more Matildas.
Inspired by the stories of women in STEM? If you’re curious about starting your own journey in tech, explore Code First Girls’ free coding courses and see where your first step could take you.
