women and the scientific revolution
DESCRIPTION
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION EFFECT ON WOMEN Little change in views of women’s inferiority or restriction of women’s roles In many ways, may have deepened inferiority & restrictions But women participated in new scientific discoveries Male Reactions: Contradicted the traditional role of women ( Doc #1) …she neglected her household Attractiveness over cerebral ( doc #3)…had been attractive ( but)… nor did I hear her say anything worth hearingTRANSCRIPT
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
Reactions by Both menAnd women Context for DBQ
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
EFFECT ON WOMEN
Little change in views of women’s inferiority or restriction of women’s roles
In many ways, may have deepened inferiority & restrictions
But women participated in new scientific discoveriesMale Reactions: Contradicted the traditional role of women ( Doc #1) …she neglected her household
Attractiveness over cerebral ( doc #3)…had been attractive ( but)… nor did I hear her say anything worth hearing
Men’s reactions continued…
As husband and collaborator ( doc #4) astronomical research ( favorable)
(Doc #6) suggests the legality of women receiving a doctorate from university ( does not oppose education in music and art ( definitely unfavorable but moderate in its approach that women could receive some education)(Doc #5) unfavorable that women should be granted entry into the academy of science in Berlin( even though Maria Winkleman is a widow ( suggesting some compassion) there is ridicule of her contributions
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
Persistence of ancient ideas
Aristotle, Hippocrates & Galen
• “Four humors”
• Misconceptions about female physiology
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
New views & discoveries
Greater accuracy in understanding female anatomy Led to notion of pervasiveness of gender differences
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
MARIA CUNITZ (1604-1664)
Made important discoveries in astronomy
Proficient in 7 languages, mathematics, medicine, history, music, painting & poetry ( additional document to illustrate contributions made) Crater Cunitz on Venus
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
MARGARET CAVENDISH (1623-1673)
Wrote 7 works of science & philosophy
Promoted individual rational capacity ( another additional document)
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
ANNA MARIA VAN SCHURMAN (1607-1678)
Widely renowned for knowledge
Promoted women’s education for moral improvement ( yet another additional document)
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
EMILIE DU CHATELET, (1706-1749)
First (and only) to translate Newton’s work into French
Published own original works building on Newtonian ideas( oh my, yet another additional document)
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
PERISTENCE OF OLD BELIEFS
Witch Hunts
15th - 18th centuries: @ 100,000 executed for witchcraft
SABBATS, ritual murder, cannibalism
Demons, devils
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
PERISTENCE OF OLD BELIEFS
Witch Hunts
82% of accused = women
Targets =• non-conforming women• marginalized women• midwives
Accusations included strong sexual component
WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
PERISTENCE OF OLD BELIEFS
Witch Hunts
First conducted by religious authorities
Process taken over by secular courts by 17th c.
Used torture to extract “confessions”
“Witch chair”“Water torture”
Thesis: The reaction of women’s participation within the scientificRevolution was politically eschewed ( dismissed) by Royal societies and Universities alike , men predominantly believed that a women’s role was Household although many would contribute as collaborators. While Many women would advance the cause of science, their male ( and female)Detractors would prevent their admission into royal societies, universitiesAnd publishing marginalizing their historical role in the scientific Revolution. An additional document from Maria Cunitz’s journalWould provide an insider’s view of someone who provided advancesIn astronomy and who was highly educated to illustrate the myriadObstacles she had to endure to remain relevant in a time when womenWere not taken seriously.