In the Open University [where we work] there has been more interest in doing somthing to celebrate International Women’s Day this year than ever before. Some of us from the GST team got involved in producing an interactive website to celebrate 60 of the most influential women of the last 100 years.
See The Real Wonder Women
We made sure that there was a good representation of women who worked in STEM. We also wanted to note the women – who although not qualified in STEM – made important contributions to it – so we have Hedy Lamar in our ‘Science’ list (do you know what she did?). And we wanted to note the importance of science education in backgrounds some of our most influential women who pursued other careers. Which two important female politicians of the last 100 years had degrees in Science ? If you don’t know you can find them by reading the biographies in our list.
Let us know which women we did not include that you would have included if you had created the list? Who have we missed?
Also please let us know what things you and your organisation have been doing for International Women’s Day.
Tags: biographies of women, international women's day, links to other websites
The Real Wonder Women is a nice historical interactive, but it’s a look back at women who achieved amazing things. As for inspiring young women, it may miss the mark. A 16 year old likely won’t aspire to be like Grace Hopper. It’s way out of her range. Instead, we should be showcasing young women who are making a difference TODAY. These women may be (and, if we’re looking to inspire girls to go into these fields, they SHOULD be) under the age of 35. Maybe they’re not winning the Turing or Nobel Prize, but they’re making fascinating, meaningful differences in their fields and/or in the lives of others. These are aspirational — kids might actually see themselves as being like these women in a few years.
Dear Julie,
yes you make a good point. It would be good to do more to highlight the acheivements of younger women.
There are some organisations such as L’Oreal -in conjunction with other organisations – who give awards to young women researchers in Science, but they get a lot less publicity than the awards and honours given to people at the peak or near the end of their careers.
See http://www.loreal.co.uk/_en/_gb/index.aspx.
I guess it is easier to evaluate a ‘completed’ career/life than one still in development.
But I don’t thing that young women are never inspired by the achievments of older or historical women. That’s why biopics about people like Queen Elizabeth the First do so well. Sometimes even fictional heroines become role models. Lots of us are fond of Abby Sciuto from NCIS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abby_Sciuto
Gill