Reclaiming the Voices of Women in STEM: The Origin of the Matilda Effect
- Dec 8, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: May 29, 2025
“I always found the ‘humanizing of science’ more interesting than the actual science,” - Margaret Rossiter
Throughout history, women have made groundbreaking discoveries and contributions to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) that have shaped our understanding of the natural world. Yet, it seems as if female scientists and their accomplishments have consistently been erased from the narrative.
Why is this the case?
The sad reality is that gender bias remains extremely prevalent in STEM communities, professional workspaces, and even kindergarten classrooms. More often than not, women do not receive credit for their work, rather recognition is taken by their male counterparts. This denial of credit is known by STEM communities as the Matilda Effect.
What is the Matilda Effect?
The Matilda Effect describes the systematic suppression and ignorance towards women’s achievements in science. It includes, but is certainly not limited to:
Downplaying achievements: It is often seen that women do not receive the same amount of praise for accomplishments of equal effort.
Lack of recognition: There have been many instances where men receive credit for women’s work. This makes it nearly impossible for women to be recognized for their work and growth as a scientist.
Citation bias towards men: Women are often not given proper credit by men, erasing their impact on the discovery/study.
At its core, the Matilda Effect reveals the subordination of women in the workforce and exposes the patriarchal structure of society.
How did the Matilda Effect come to be?
The Matilda Effect was coined by Margaret W. Rossiter, a historian at Cornell University. In the early 1990s, Rossiter was conducting a study called Women Scientists in America in which she described the activities, struggles, and accomplishments of female scientists, astronomers, physicists, biologists, etc. During this study, she noticed a troubling trend in the way women were treated. Specifically, she observed that their accomplishments were belittled by male colleagues/mentors. Applying this idea, in 1993, Rossiter published a paper called “The Matthew Matilda Effect in Science.” She analyzed thousands of scientific papers where women had been overshadowed by men, criticizing the idea that women’s works had been misattributed to men, while they were left to be forgotten.
Rossiter chose to name this phenomenon after suffragist and abolitionist, Matilda Joslyn Gage, to pay tribute to her work as a women’s rights activist. Matilda Joslyn Gage worked closely with Susan B. Anthony and Cady Stanton to advocate for women’s rights. In 1870, Gage published a pamphlet called Woman as Inventor. She argued that Catherine Littlefield Greene, not Eli Whitney, had actually invented the cotton gin.
Rossiter discovered who Gage was in 1990, while researching for her “Women Scientists in America.” She was shocked to discover that Gage was not more well known. By naming this phenomenon after Matilda Joslyn Gage, it underscores how Gage’s own work had been marginalized and ignored, much like the work of female scientists throughout history.
What can we do to stop the Matilda Effect?
Raise awareness about the gender biases in the STEM community: It is important that we all come together and recognize the faults that have been practiced for so long. In order to break the gender barriers for girls and women in STEM we need to educate future generations about the gender gap and continue to challenge the gender stereotypes.
Celebrate diversity in a STEM setting: “Science is not a boy’s game, it’s not a girl’s game. It’s everyone’s game. It’s about where we are and where we’re going.” We need to emphasize that science is not defined by a person’s gender or race. Everyone and anyone with the passion, skills, and curiosity should have access to opportunities in science. That is why it is so important for organizations to take initiatives to actively support the minorities in STEM. The future of science depends on the collaboration of individuals from different backgrounds.
Promote Females in STEM: Project STEMinsim strives to elevate the stories of women, within our local + (inter)national community, who have contributed to a STEM cause. Whether it be a publication, documentary, book, or lecture, it is the recognition of these voices that is so crucial to the growth of the STEM community. Project STEMinism firmly believes that together women and girls in STEM will break down barriers and live in a more equitable future.
Comments