Women In Science Dbq

The Scientific Revolution marked a major shift in Western thought between the 1500s and 1700s. Modern science emerged as a way of gaining true knowledge about the natural world. During the time, science was a field dominated by men. Women were believed to be incapable of anything outside their domestic sphere. There was a social stigma regarding women in science. Society had varying reactions toward women working in the sciences, the majority of which were negative. However, some were accepting of women and their contributions to science. The Scientific Revolution had little impact on the way society viewed women. Women continued to be subject to restrictive gender roles.

Women in science were commonly discriminated against by men because

of gender roles thrust upon them by society. It was believed that women were incapable of mastering anything outside of the domestic sphere. Göttingen newspaper expresses the society’s misogynistic view of women who choose to participate in the sciences. The article on Dorothea Schlozer provides a negative opinion on women who venture outside what is considered “proper” to learn (Doc 13). The author of the article likely reported with the opinion of the audience in mind because it was published in a newspaper. Men like Johann Junker, head of the University of Halle believed that were not intelligent enough to make a substantial impact in the sciences. He implies in document 10 that women are incapable of learning at the university level and obtaining a doctorate. Academies refused to allow women into their ranks and men were hesitant to collaborate with women in the sciences because it was seen as embarrassing. This is illustrated by Theodor Jablonski, secretary to the Berlin Academy of Sciences’, reaction to a woman working on the official calendar (Doc 8). He does not comment on Maria Winkelmann’s competence or ability to do the work. Society’s perception of women shaped men’s attitudes, because of this, women who aspired to work in the sciences were oppressed.
Women who participated in the sciences were also subjected to scrutiny from their own gender. Many women supported the public opinion that women should not stray from the domestic sphere. Marie Thrious d’Arconville, in a preface to the book Thoughts on Literature, Morals, and Physics, expressed the opinion that women should not be involved in the sciences (Doc 12). It should be noted that Marie Thrious d’Arconville was a chemist herself. The preface she wrote was most likely written with the opinion of the male author of the book in mind. The excerpt of the preface dissuaded women who had an interest in science to pursue their passion. Dorothea Erxleben’s Inquiry into the Causes Preventing the Female Sex from Studying acknowledged how other women disapproved of female scientists because they believed that female scientists thought themselves too good for the domestic sphere and better than them (Doc 9).
Women faced misogyny and discrimination for their work in the sciences, but some were not discouraged by this and made great contributions to the sciences.

Female scientists such as Maria Merian and Marquise Emilie du Chatelet had an impact on western science, demonstrating how women were capable of contributing to the sciences despite society’s opinions. Merian published her book Wonderful Metamorphoses and Special Nourishment of Caterpillars during a time when women were criticized for publishing books and demonstrates how society was not able to completely repress women in science (Doc 5). Marquise Emmilie du Chatelet’s letter to the Marquis Jean Francois de Saint-Lambert also demonstrates how women refused to be repressed by society. She refuted his reproach of her translating Newton’s Principia, a translation so thorough it is still used today (Doc 11). Some men in the sciences also gained a respect for women and their contributions. Not all men at the time believed women were incapable of learning at a university level like Junker did. Gottfried Leibniz, a German mathematician, even went as far as to state “women of elevated mind advanced knowledge more properly than do men.” As a philosopher Leibniz likely thought beyond society’s opinions, which is why he did not conform (Doc 7). Johannes Hevelius and Gottfried Krich disregarded the notion that collaborating with women was seen as embarrassing, and both collaborated with their wives (Doc 4 and Doc

6).
Reactions to women participating in the sciences during the Scientific Revolution were predominantly negative from both men and women. They were discriminated against because they were believed to be inferior and science was thought to be unwomanly and improper. Despite this, women were still able to make an impact on science and were even recognized by some men for their contributions. These positive receptions of women in science paved the way for women today who are being encouraged to enter the sciences.