Throughout history, women have made significant contributions to society, but their achievements have often been overlooked or forgotten. Here are a few examples of the untold women’s history:.
1. Ada Lovelace – The First Computer Programmer
Ada Lovelace was a mathematician who is credited with creating the first computer program. She wrote an algorithm that could be used to calculate Bernoulli numbers using Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, an early mechanical computer design.
Lovelace was fascinated with Babbage’s work and worked closely with him on the development of the Analytical Engine. She saw the potential of the computer beyond mere calculation and imagined how it could be used to create music and art.
Although Babbage never built the Analytical Engine, Lovelace’s insights into its potential paved the way for modern computer programming. Her work was not recognized until the 1950s.
2. Katherine Johnson – NASA Mathematician and “Human Computer”
Katherine Johnson was an African American mathematician who played a crucial role in NASA’s early space exploration programs.
Her calculations were instrumental in the launch of the first American astronaut into space and the subsequent moon landing.
Johnson began working at NASA’s predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), in 1953. She was initially assigned to the West Area Computing unit, a group of women who performed complex mathematical calculations by hand.
Johnson’s remarkable ability to perform calculations quickly and accurately earned her a spot in the Space Task Group, a team of scientists and engineers tasked with sending the first American into space.
Johnson’s calculations were so crucial that astronaut John Glenn insisted that she double-check the computer’s calculations before his historic flight in 1962.
Johnson’s work has been recognized by NASA and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
3. Rosalind Franklin – DNA Pioneer
Rosalind Franklin was a British scientist who played a crucial role in the discovery of the structure of DNA.
She used X-ray crystallography to create images of the molecular structure of DNA, which were used by James Watson and Francis Crick in their Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.
Franklin’s contribution to the discovery of DNA’s structure has often been overlooked and she was not recognized for her work until after her death.
Her role was not fully appreciated until Watson wrote a book about the discovery of DNA in which he acknowledged Franklin’s contribution.
4. Elizabeth Magie – Inventor of Monopoly
Elizabeth Magie was an American writer and game designer who invented the game that became known as Monopoly.
Originally called The Landlord’s Game, it was designed as a way to teach people about the negative aspects of monopolies and the benefits of a single tax system.
Magie’s game captured the attention of players throughout the United States and became a popular pastime. However, she did not patent her game and it was later sold to Parker Brothers, who marketed it as Monopoly.
Magie’s contribution to the game has been largely forgotten, and her role in its creation was not recognized until it was discovered by researchers in the 1970s.
Conclusion
These four women are just a few examples of the untold women’s history that has been overlooked or forgotten. Their contributions to society have had a significant impact on modern technology, space exploration, and popular culture.
It is important to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women in all areas of society, and to ensure that their stories are told and remembered for future generations.