Role of Women in the Scientific Revolution

Role of Women in the Scientific Revolution

Introduction

Women have always been effectively contributing in the field of science since earlier times. They are observed to be making great sacrifices for the accomplishment of scientific endeavors. They have faced hurdles in making themselves accepted in the field of science. The women's effective role in science started expanding as women started working to support the financial needs of their families. The enlightenment was an era of great knowledge, communication and growth.

Discussion

Role Women Played in Scientific Revolution Era in Eighteenth Century

The women reacted in a positive way and efficiently contributed with her knowledge, skills and abilities to actively work for the favor of the movements of the Renaissance and Humanistic as well as they engaged themselves in the activities for the progress and growth of scientific field. When the new discoveries of science appeared during the ending years of 17th century and the starting years of 18th centuries, many women got motivated. Those women who were blessed with the knowledge of science started formulating their own theories related to nature. They not only researched and performed their own experiments but they even succeeded to publish their theories in the market (Anne, 2009).

It had been observed that within America and Europe, many women were highly interested in natural sciences. Those women used to study the researches and theories of the male scientists of that time, and generated practical application with the help of new knowledge of those theories. The scientific fields in which women were mostly interested were Medicine, Natural History, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Geography, Mathematics, Astronomy, Horticulture and Botany. The people who seemed to be interested in these fields were often called naturalists not only during that particular era but it was also continued in the next centuries. The information regarding to the contribution of women is somehow insufficient but still some have a detailed biography written on them focusing their scientific achievements. The first woman who discovered the medicinal properties related to quinine bark was the Countess of Cinchon or Chinchon, Ana de Osorio. She became famous during 1599-1625 when she succeeded to cure her malaria with her own theory. She was from Europe. She lived there with her husband; Viceroy to Peru during the time when Spanish tried to occupy some areas of Europe. The plant was then called as Countess of Cinchon's honor, Cinchona Pubescens by Carl Linnaeus who was considered as the father of taxonomy. Afterwards this theory was further extended by Walter Reed, who was a well-known American Army General. He discovered a powerful palliative measure named as quinine for the treatment of malaria. This was the time when United States was supposed to be engaged in building the Panama Canal from France. Suitable awareness of women composition continued for a long period appeared as persistent thoughts inherited from the scientists of ancient times. After the invention of microscope during the Scientific Revolutionary Era, there were studies conducted that started to disclose the efficient ...