Throughout history, women’s contributions to science, technology, and innovation have been overlooked, dismissed, or outright stolen by men. Many brilliant women have made groundbreaking discoveries, only for male colleagues, mentors, or institutions to claim credit. From Rosalind Franklin’s crucial role in uncovering the structure of DNA to Hedy Lamarr’s pioneering work in wireless communication, the pattern of erasing women’s achievements is well-documented. This article explores some of the most notable cases where women were denied recognition for their inventions and successes.
Rosalind Franklin and the Structure of DNA
One of the most well-known cases of scientific theft involves Rosalind Franklin, a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer. In the early 1950s, Franklin captured an image known as Photo 51, which provided crucial evidence of the double-helix structure of DNA. However, without her permission, this image was shared with James Watson and Francis Crick, who used it to finalize their DNA model. While Watson and Crick went on to receive the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962, Franklin’s contributions were largely ignored during her lifetime.
Hedy Lamarr and the Foundation of Wi-Fi
Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr was more than just a film star—she was also a brilliant inventor. During World War II, Lamarr co-developed frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology, which prevented enemy forces from jamming radio-controlled torpedoes. This technology laid the groundwork for modern Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Despite this, Lamarr was dismissed as just a pretty face, and it wasn’t until decades later that she received proper recognition. She was finally honored in 1997 with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Pioneer Award, long after her groundbreaking invention had shaped modern communication.
Lise Meitner and the Discovery of Nuclear Fission
Lise Meitner, an Austrian-Swedish physicist, played a critical role in the discovery of nuclear fission—the process that powers nuclear reactors and bombs. Alongside Otto Hahn, she developed the theoretical explanation for nuclear fission, but when it came time for recognition, Hahn alone received the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Meitner was overlooked despite her key role in explaining the discovery, reflecting the systemic exclusion of women from major scientific awards.
Margaret Knight and the Paper Bag Machine
In the 19th century, Margaret Knight revolutionized the paper bag industry by inventing a machine that could create flat-bottomed paper bags—an innovation still used today. However, a man named Charles Annan stole her design and attempted to patent it himself. Knight had to sue him for patent rights, successfully proving in court that she was the rightful inventor. She won the case in 1871, but her struggle exemplifies the challenges women inventors have historically faced.
Elizabeth Magie and the Monopoly Paradox
Elizabeth Magie, a game designer and activist, created The Landlord’s Game in 1904 to illustrate the dangers of monopolies and promote economic reform. Her game featured elements like property ownership, rent collection, and taxation—many of which later appeared in Monopoly. In the 1930s, Charles Darrow popularized a modified version of her game, selling it to Parker Brothers without crediting Magie. Though she received only $500 for her patent, Monopoly became a global sensation, while her role in its creation remained largely unrecognized for decades.
Katherine Johnson and NASA’s Space Program
African American mathematician Katherine Johnson was a crucial figure in NASA’s early space missions. She performed the orbital mechanics calculations that helped John Glenn become the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. While Glenn himself acknowledged her contributions—famously insisting that Johnson personally verify calculations before his flight—her work was largely unrecognized by the public for decades. Only in recent years, with the book and film Hidden Figures, has Johnson’s role in space exploration received widespread recognition.
The Broader Pattern of Erasure
These examples are just a few of the many cases where women’s intellectual labor was downplayed, stolen, or dismissed. From Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer, to Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who discovered pulsars but was denied the Nobel Prize, the trend is undeniable. Women have shaped history, often without receiving the credit they deserved.
Today, efforts to acknowledge women’s contributions are improving, but there is still work to be done. By educating ourselves about these hidden histories, we can help ensure that future generations of women receive the recognition they rightly deserve.
