Students should be able to recognize the importance of women's contributions throughout history and understand the consequences of their often overlooked role.
Students should be able to identify and learn about specific female pioneers such as Ada Lovelace, Joan Clarke, Harriet Tubman, and Jane Cooke Wright, as well as understand their contributions to society and technology.
Students should be able to analyze and discuss how gender and social status have affected women in history, their opportunities to contribute, and be recognized in their fields.
Students should be able to critically assess the importance of reinterpreting history to include forgotten or overlooked contributions from various groups, including women.
Students should be able to explain the concept of 'herstory' as opposed to 'history', and discuss its relevance and significance for a more inclusive understanding of history.
• The women of the United Kingdom
• The women of the United States of America
Invitation to class discussion
Here are a few women who have impacted societies in big ways. In the big picture, there are uncountable women who have contributed and paved the way for how our society functions and also how we move onwards. These women are not forgotten, but we rarely talk about them.
• How many women in the collage can you recognise?
• Do you know any other influential women? If so, who and what did they do?
Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)
Ada Lovelace was the daughter of Lord Byron, a very famous English poet. Lovelace was herself a writer and a mathematician. She belonged to a high class of society, and she was talented in her fields of interest. Due to her privileges, Lovelace had the opportunity to meet and gain knowledge from famous author Charles Dickens and scientists such as Charles Babbage. In turn, this helped her expand and further her education.Impact
Working alongside Charles Babbage, Lovelace wrote her most notable work. Babbage, who is called “the father of computers”, proposed the first Analytical Engine (a computer for calculation). In 1843, a lecture given by Babbage was translated* into English by Lovelace who expanded on the ideas and developed further theories on the Analytical Engine. In the notes, Lovelace wrote an algorithm, the first computer programme, that was not for pure calculation. This invention was in of itself revolutionary.Joan Clarke (1917-1996)
Joan Clarke graduated as an undergraduate mathematician with honours at Newnham College, Cambridge, but she was denied a full degree because she was a woman. Her talent was discovered by Gordon Welchman (mathematician) and recruited as a clerical at Bletchley Park. Bletchley Park was a facility established in 1939 only dedicated to breaking the German Enigma Code, code used by Germans during WWII.Impact
At Bletchley Park, Clarke’s role became that of a cryptologist, science of breaking codes and ciphers. Alongside Welchman and Alan Turing (mathematician), she helped develop the machines used to break German codes during the war, avoiding attacks from Germany. Despite her contribution, she was not allowed to advance in her career because of her gender, and she was also paid less than the men. It was only after the war that Clarke could work for the GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) and later dedicated her life to researching coinage (currency).• The women of the United Kingdom
• The women of the United States of America
Harriet Tubman (1822*-1913)
Born Araminta Ross, Harriet Tubman changed her name after marriage adopting her husband’s last name. The first name was changed for reasons unknown. Tubman was born into slavery and suffered through her life in the pursuit of freedom. Following the death of the plantation owner, she managed to escape and live as an outlaw working odd jobs until she managed to arrive in Canada. Canada, as part of the British Empire, had abolished slavery and she could hide there.Impact
Through the years, Tubman went on escape missions back in the US, helping other slaves and relatives escape, and succeeded in doing so. She worked alongside many other activists towards anti-slavery and later towards women’s suffrage. Tubman lived a life in poverty because she was not recognised legally or socially by the government. Her efforts inspired many following activists through history, and she has been credited and commemorated later in life for her heroic and patriotic efforts.Jane Cooke Wright (1919-2013)
Jane Cooke Wright was born in a time where the Black Pride movement was prominent. The activist movement promoted and encouraged Black cultures and heritage. As a woman of color, it helped Wright to flourish in her field of studies. She originally wanted to study arts but changed course because her father convinced her to do so. Wright studied medicine at New York Medical College and graduated with honors in 1945. Following in the footsteps of her father, Wright researched cancer and especially chemotherapy.Impact
Wright is known for her significant contributions for chemotherapy and developing the research method of using human tissue culture for studies. Instead of using lab rats for testing, they could extract human tissues (cells) and use these for research. Moreover, her work consisted of testing drugs on cancerous tumors and finding treatments for breast cancer and leukemia. Her contributions to cancer research have developed the field of cancer treatment.Invitation to class discussion