Role of Women in Science Today Essay Example
Role of Women in Science Today Essay Example

Role of Women in Science Today Essay Example

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  • Pages: 7 (1800 words)
  • Published: November 27, 2021
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Introduction

Science as a branch aims at producing more and more perfect explanations of how the world works, its components and how the world got to where it is today. Generally, the main goal of science has been building understanding and knowledge regardless of the potential applications. For example, exploring the chemical reactions an organic compound withstands in order to get the knowledge about its structure. Nevertheless, scientific research increasingly is undertaken with the goal of solving a certain problem or alternatively developing a technology. During the process of achieving the goal, new explanations and knowledge are constructed. The knowledge built by science is always open to revision and questions. There is no scientific idea that has been for once and for all proven. Science usually seeks new evidence which could unveil problems with our present understandings. Ideas that a

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re fully accepted today may be modified in light of modern evidence invented tomorrow (Undsci.berkeley.edu, 2016). This paper in a wider view will look at the role that women have played in science today.

Women have really made a crucial contribution to science from earliest times. Historians having interest in science and gender have illuminated the scientific accomplishment and endeavors of women. They have clarified the barriers women faced and the strategies applied to have women’s work accepted and peer-reviewed in vital scientific publications and journals. Women’s involvement in the field of medicine occurred in early civilizations and in ancient Greece; the study of natural philosophy was open to women. In the middle ages, convents were paramount places of education for women. Various communities offered opportunities for women to provide to scholarly research. Despite the emergence of first

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universities in the 11th century, women were still excluded from university education and more so in Italy where educating women in medical fields was liberal than any other place. Women experienced great progress in science in 18th century when gender roles were greatly defined. In 19th century, women’s were eliminated from formal scientific education though they were admitted into learned societies. Later, the rise of Women’s College offered jobs for scientists who were women and more so opportunities for education.
The first woman to win a Nobel prize, Marie Curie went on to become the second winner of the same award for both her work on radiation. Other women during this period include Annie Jump Cannon and Williamina Paton Fleming who classified the stars for the American physicist. British geneticist and botanist Rebecca Saunders together with British biochemist Muriel wheldale contributed much to the foundation of modern genetics via their work with the British biologist William Bateson (Ribeiro, 2016).

It is alluring to cast the role of women in science and technology as one of the battles and struggles due to their sex rather than their contributions due to their minds. In the modern world, there is a huge body of tasks that women have contributed to science and technology. Grace Hopper is one of women in history who have made a significant achievement in programming field. She was the developer of some of very important computer and programming languages that are still being used today. The main development was computer languages that were written in English rather than mathematical notation. The most notable computing language is called COBOL, which is used today in programming industry.

Katherine Johnson

is an African –American space mathematician and scientist who is a leading figure in the American space history and she has made huge contributions to the American’s space and aeronautics programs by her embodiment of computing tools. She played a big role in calculating major trajectories in the space. She calculated the trajectory for Alan Shepard among other astronauts. Even though she is retired, she has continued engaging students in science and technology careers and this has brought a huge advancement in the field. Rachel Carson is a marine environmentalist and biologist whose book ‘Silent Spring’ has acted as a catalyst for the current environmental movement. Though she passed away some years back, her work is still awakens the concern of Americans for the environment. Maria Klawe also is a woman who pursued her for science and technology and she became a famous computer scientist. During her tenure being the president of Harvey Mudd College, she worked hard to stimulate passion about science and technology field among other groups. Her work has helped the computer science faculty’s to innovate and this has raised the percentage of female students majoring in computer science to about 40% from initial 15%.

Lydia Villa Komaroff is a trailblazer in the discipline of molecular biology. She faced many adversities thorough out her life. She pursued her passion in despite some opposition from advisers and she discovered that bacteria can be engineered to yield human insulin. Her discovery has made a huge significance in chemistry industry today and she is currently the Chief Scientific Officer at a company called Cytonome. Sally Ride also has transformed the history when she became the first

woman in America to fly in space. After her shuttle flight, she decided to retire and pursue her passion for education by motivating young people. She started an organization dedicated to support students interested in science and technology. Her work is still being used today and she continues inspiring young women across the world though she passed away recently. Rosalind Franklin also is a key pillar to the structure of DNA. Her pivotal piece of the story of DNA has contributed much in the modern world of biology.

Due to the increased number of women in the field of science and technology in the modern society, innovation, creativity and competitiveness have maximized. Engineers and scientists have worked hard to solve some of the challenges facing the society. They have designed many devices that are currently used. When women are not engaged in science and technology, needs, experiences and desires are special to women may be overlooked. With a diverse workforce, technological and scientific services, products and solutions are likely to be better designed and there are more likely represent all users. Moreover, the direction of scientific inquiry will be directed by a wider array of experiences. More women are being hired in science and technology faculty due to their productivity (Magazine, 2016). Women and girls are being encouraged to engage into science and technology jobs because they confer huge economic security. Nevertheless, while the wage gap between women and men is not quite as wide as it is for other employees not related in science and technology, women in science still make around 14% less compared to men on average (BlogHer, 2016).

The beast way to retain

women in the field of science is to pay them handsomely and make them feel comfortable by doing so. This will highlight some of the disparities and it explain how this solution fits into the broader picture of the costs related with failing to retain women in industry and academia. A recent research shows that women in science and engineering are earning 12% less than men despite having the same skills and qualifications. If equal pay for women and men is put into practice, more women and girls would be interested in the field hence increased productivity. In many countries where this has been embraced, there has been a noticeable growth in science especially in information technology sector. This growth has impacted positively to the lives of the individuals and the entire growth of the economy. According to Lydia Makhubu, the president of the 3rd world organization for women in science, the role of women and girls is specifically important in pursuing policies of continuous development since they have been intimately involved in fields such as energy, food production and health which lie at the core of this process. Due to their closeness to children and family, they have a special approach to science and its application that usually emphasizes the human aspect of science and technology and its benefit in improving the quality of life and general empowerment of humankind.

The fact that a huge proportion of women who entered technology careers chose did that in the life sciences and it must be contemplated a plus in the scene of the problems of the current developing world. Women have been involved in the transferal of

culture due to their close involvement with their children. This virtual has been a key transmitter of norms and values from one generation to another. Makhubu insists that women need to be vanguard of the integration of science and culture, creation of a future and making of policies in which human needs to form the kernel of scientific and technological venture.

The suggested solutions for the issue of under-representation by women in the science and technology field are as varied as the difficulties. Basically, there are various organizations that exist to assist women interested in the sciences and other scholarship for women. Other ways call for raising awareness in schools and workplace to accommodate women workers and students. There are other initiatives to reduce the working hours so that individuals spend more time with their families. There are also other outreach programs to educate organizations on the benefits of friendly workplaces which could assist cut down the weakening rate of women in science and technology industries. Other programs emphasize on the women love to technology to encourage them take part in scientific inventions (Elsevier Connect, 2016).

Conclusion

The female leaders in the science and technology need to carry out as role models for the future generation of women. They need to continue setting a stage for progression by elevating and highlighting deserving women in science and technology, who eventually will discharge as future role models. They must also continue sharing their experiences and the lessons they have learned along the way with the future leaders. Women in the science and technology roles require sharing their enthusiasm about the wonders of technology and this will assist young students understand

the real world and the tangible advantages of science and technology. The leaders also need to plant the science and technology seed early to young girls so as to build their confidence in their scientific skills for them to succeed and enjoy in these fields.

References

  1. Exploring the Role of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Retrieved 15 February 2016, from http://www.blogher.com/womens-history-month-exploring-role- women-science-technology-engineering-and-math-stem
  2. Mothers of Technology: 10 Women Who Invented and Innovated in Tech. BizTech. Retrieved 15 February 2016, from http://www.biztechmagazine.com/article/2012/05/mothers- technology-10-women-who-invented-and-innovated-tech
  3. Science aims to explain and understand. Retrieved 15 February 2016, from http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/whatisscience_04
  4. Study: Women encounter inequality in science & technology fields. Retrieved 15 February 2016, from https://www.elsevier.com/connect/study-women-encounter-inequality-in-science- and-technology-fields
  5. What Gender Is Science? - Contexts. Contexts.org. Retrieved 15 February 2016, from https://contexts.org/articles/what-gender-is-science/
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