In her 1925 Radcliffe College thesis, Cecilia Payne calculated that stars are overwhelmingly hydrogen and helium. A senior astronomer talked her into calling her own result "almost certainly not real." Four years later, he published the same conclusion under his own name
scienceblog.com
She discovered what the universe was made of, then was told to doubt herself—until a man claimed the discovery as his own.

…calculated that stars are overwhelmingly hydrogen and helium. A senior astronomer talked her into calling her own result “almost certainly not real.” Four years later, he published the same conclusion under his own name

This is a story that should be taught to all girls from junior middle school onward. A woman makes a discovery, is gaslit by a man into denying it, then has that discovery and credit stolen from her by the very man who gaslit her.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

  • Bryllyg@quokk.auEnglish
    7·
    2 days ago

    Ugh. I wish this world was more equitable for us and while I do hold onto that hope, I realize the goal has a high difficulty of ever being realized in my lifetime.

    However, I find at least some solace in stories like the one you shared here ZDL, because at least there is some recognition through history that this is so prevalent still in today’s society and hopefully these stories can help spread the message that this is not the way to treat anyone…

    • ZDL@lazysoci.alOPEnglish
      7·
      2 days ago

      It’s called “The Matilda Effect” and is a well-studied phenomenon in science, unfortunately.

      But science is a pure meritocracy that in no way, shape, or form discriminates on race or gender.

      • Bryllyg@quokk.auEnglish
        5·
        2 days ago

        Oh wow thank you for giving me something to read up on. I feel like I heard the term before, and now I can learn more about it. I appreciate you.