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Celebrating Women's Achievements: Canadian Women in ScienceMary Bond, Research and Information Services
Canadian women have been active participants in a broad spectrum of scientific endeavours for several hundred years. In honour of Women's History Month, October 2001, the National Library of Canada has chosen to celebrate the lives of 16 women who have worked in medicine, architecture, physics, engineering, geology, and the aeronautical, biological and agricultural sciences. Biographies of these women, accompanied by lists of suggested readings and portraits, have been added to the Celebrating Women's Achievements page of the National Library's Web site (www.nlc-bnc.ca/women). Many of these women faced enormous challenges in their personal and professional lives. Despite these challenges, they have made significant contributions to scientific research, achieved firsts in their fields and furthered the advancement of women in non-traditional areas of activity. "So why do we know so little about [women in science]?" asks Marianne Goszotonyi Ainley in the introduction to Despite the Odds: Essays on Canadian Women and Science. In response, Ms. Ainley notes that women must overcome many barriers to enter the world of science and technology, including limitations on higher education and career advancement, which are reinforced by stereotypical thinking about the appropriate roles for women. As a result, even today, few women hold positions of power in the sciences. Ms. Ainley's comments are certainly well illustrated by the lives of women such as Maude Abbott, Esther Marjorie Hill and Alice Wilson. Maude Abbott was not permitted to study medicine at McGill University's medical school because, in the 19th century, it did not accept women as students. Determined to become a physician, she entered the Faculty of Medicine at Bishop's College in Montreal in 1890 as the only woman in her class. With the support of Dr. William Osler, Maude Abbott would become a world-renowned authority on heart disease. Marjorie Hill was the first woman to graduate with an architectural degree from a Canadian university; however, she had difficulty obtaining work in her field and was refused membership in the Alberta Association of Architects, although she met all of the requirements. Marjorie made do with a variety of jobs, including interior decorating for the Eaton's department store, glove making and greeting card designing, but, through perseverance, eventually went on to build a successful career in architecture. Alice Wilson was Canada's first woman geologist, however, only through great personal determination was she able to pursue the work she loved. She was denied promotions, educational leave and appropriate transportation for fieldwork. Nevertheless, she came to be recognized as an eminent geologist, paleontologist and teacher. Several of the women are strong advocates for women's involvement in the sciences and in encouraging young women to pursue scientific careers. Physicist Ursula Franklin believes that women provide an essential focus on community and interdisciplinarity, without which scientific research would be impoverished. Monique Frize, an electrical engineer and professor, actively promotes careers for women in the sciences and engineering by giving school presentations to students in Grades 5 to 12. While recent statistics on the participation of women in scientific professions show an increase in fields such as medicine, women are still under-represented in professions in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics (Statistics Canada, Women in Canada 2000). It is hoped that these biographies will highlight and celebrate the achievements of Canadian women in the sciences and will serve as an inspiration to young women interested in pursuing scientific research and careers. As Monique Frize states in her lectures "Be what you want to be. Be dedicated to your goal. Believe in yourself." For further information, please contact: Reference and Information Services |
