1. Women in
Mathematics:
Where History and
Today Meet.
By Ashley Anne Strobridge
WMST Minor at GMU

2.  Being barred from attending
universities
 Having their work be labeled
unacceptable due to their sex
 Being stereotyped as poor
mathematicians and thinkers
 Being harassed and even
murdered for pursuing an
education
Throughout history, women have faced
many obstacles concerning math, but not
one of them has been inability…

3. Begin at the Beginning…
Image of Hypatia of Alexandria in Raphael’s School of Athens fresco
in the Papal Palace of the Vatican. Quote included.

4. Martyrdom…..
Admired by her peers
and historians…..
Feared, and
ultimately destroyed,
by religious zealots.

5. And then there was darkness…
Very few women were allowed to
perform mathematics in the Dark
Ages, but pictured here, being
consumed by hellfire, is
Hildegaurd von Bingen of
Germany, who was a famous nun
in the 11th century who wrote on
many scientific topics including
medicine and botany.

6. Italy: A Place Where Women Can
Think!

7. A Lady’s Education…
“Math lies outside the
province of women,”
-Leonardo Bruni , 1405

8. The Enlightenment Brings
LIGHT!
 During the Age of
Enlightenment,
approximately 1650-
1800 C.E., there were
a small number of
women who were able
to make names for
themselves in the field
of mathematics.
 These included:
 From the University of
Bologna: Laura Bassi
(1711-1778) and Maria
Gaetana Agnesi (1718-
1799).
 From the Salons of
Paris: Emilie de
Breteuil, Marquise du
Châtelet (1706-1749)
and Sophie Germain
(1776-1831)

9. The Ladies of Enlightened Italy…
Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1718-1799)Laura Bassi (1711-1778)

10. The Limits of a French Lady’s
Education…
Emilie de Breteuil, Marquise du
Châtelet (1706-1749) Sophie Germain (1776-1831)

11. Women of Industry!
 Augusta Ada Byron Lovelace lived from 1815 to 1852 and was
the first person to conceive of computer programs.

12. Germany Was a Place for
Women of Intellect in the 1800s
 Grace Chrisholm
Young, (1868 – 1944).
Young published her
own book on geometry
in 1905; it included
patterns for geometric
figures that are still
used in math classes
today.

13. Earning Einstein’s Praise…
 “Emmy Noether was
the most significant
creative mathematical
genius thus far
produced since the
higher education of
women began.“ –
Albert Einstein
Emmy Amalie Noether (1882-1935)

14. A Hard-Won Victory…
Co-ed party, University of Chicago, 1900, Chicago.
But challenges
still lay ahead….
http://calumet412.com/post/43487729628/co-ed-party-university-of-chicago-1900

15. Stereotypes Prevail…
AAUW: http://www.aauw.org/resource/why-so-few-women-in-science-
technology-engineering-and-mathematics/

16. More Obstacles for Women…
 “In many physics
departments, women
encounter climates that
range from chilly to
hostile” (Czujko & Ivie),
and that “women earn
significantly lower
salaries than men”
(Czujko & Ivie).
http://www.phas.ubc.ca/~wow/

17. Overcoming Obstacles…
 From the 4th century to
today, women have
made great strides and
discoveries in the field
of mathematics despite
stereotypes and myths
about their capacity as
great thinkers.

18. Hopefully a Bright Future Ahead!
 Women are now being
encouraged to enter the
STEM fields
 Scholarships are being
awarded to young women
today to encourage them to
enter the STEM fields
http://megbear.com/2013/10/11/ode-to-women-
in-stem-for-ada-lovelace-day-2013/

19. References:
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2000. World History In Context. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.
Cheryan, Sapna. “Understanding the Paradox in Math-Related Fields: Why Do Some Gender Gaps
Remain While Others Do Not?” Sex Roles. Vol. 66, 184-190. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
Coffin, Judith…[et al.]. Western Civilizations. Ed. Jon Durbin. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.,
2011. Print.
Czujko, Roman and Rachel Ivie. “Women in Physics and Astronomy.” American Institute of Physics. 2005.
Web. 22 April 2013.
"Emergence of Women at the Highest Levels of Mathematics." Science and Its Times. Ed. Neil Schlager
and Josh Lauer. Vol. 6. Detroit: Gale, 2001. World History In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
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and Gender Identification on Women’s and Men’s Math Performance in Sweden.” Scandinavian Journal
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Fowler, Elizabeth M. "Careers; A Shortage Of Women in Mathematics." New York Times. 1 Nov. 1988.
World History In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.
Jaschik, Scott. “Women Lead in Doctorates.” Inside Higher Education. 2010. Web. 22 April 2013.
Scholasticus, Socrates. “The Life of Hypatia.” Ecclesiastical History. Alexandria on the Web. Web. 8 Mar.
2013.
Simon, Marilyn K. “The Evolving Role of Women in Mathematics.” Mathematics Teacher. Vol. 93, 782-786.
2000. Web. 8 Mar. 2013.
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Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 2001. World History In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.