INADEQUATE CONTRIBUTION OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. MYTH OR REALITY? By Fatima Zahgeer

INADEQUATE CONTRIBUTION OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.  MYTH OR REALITY? 

Since time immemorial women and their capabilities have been undermined, their talent left unnurtured and untapped. To begin with, women were in every philosophical and practical connotation of the affairs of the world, treated as a non entity rather as chattel. Their role was confined to bearing and rearing oh children. As a result, they were considered deserving of no right and respect. Women were historically, along with other vulnerable sections of the society, like non-propertied men, not even given the right to vote. After industrial revolution, when more man power was required and a work environment was created by the setting up of factories and industries, women started to take part in production and manufacturing of various products. They began breaking away from the shackles that kept them away from contributing towards growing economy. Now, the question arises whether science and technology has or not seen enough women contributors?  Given this historical background of the suppression faced by women, they were yet active in the field of science, despite all the skepticism and discrimination faced by them. People never thought that women had it in them to contribute meaningfully in any field or to make any contribution in the field of   Science and Technology. But, the likes Marie Curie (First woman and the first person to win Nobel prize twice in two different sciences), Rosalind Franklin (Contributed to the understanding of molecular structure of DNA, RNA),Asima chatterjee(First woman to receive doctorate of science in Indian university), Thaisastorchi Bergmann ( First Researcher to discover that matter could escape from black hole),

(Awarded for her contribution to the proof of the existence of Higgs Boson, the particle responsible for the creation of mars in universe) Lisa Meitnder, Rachel Carson and many more have proved that women possess equal talent as men and given equal opportunity they will march ahead of men like they have in other fields.

Given all the denial of access to avenues, resources and opportunities to women, their contribution in science and technology hasn’t been any way less than men. No contribution or otherwise can be read and understood in isolation or vacuum it has to be supplemented and supported by historicity and proven facts. And given historical suppression of women their late entry in this field women made a mark for themselves in this field as well.

In the current global scenario, women do not lag behind in any branch of science and technology. Steadily there is an increase in the number of girls making it to top institutions of Science and technology. As of 2017, Nobel Prize has been awarded to 844 men and 48 women. This stark numerical distinction between the number of men and women awarded with Nobel Prize although may speak of inadequacy but talent and contribution cannot always be quantified but at the same time recognition will always have to read subject to the societal discrimination.

Thus, to say or suggest that contribution of women in the field of science and technology is inadequate or less is an incorrect statement which is bereft of historical knowledge of pertinent facts.