women and the scientific revolution

WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION

Reactions by Both menAnd women Context for DBQ


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


HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

Persistence of ancient ideas

Aristotle, Hippocrates & Galen

• “Four humors”

• Misconceptions about female physiology


HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

New views & discoveries

Greater accuracy in understanding female anatomy Led to notion of pervasiveness of gender differences


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 IN SCIENCE

MARGARET CAVENDISH (1623-1673)

Wrote 7 works of science & philosophy

Promoted individual rational capacity ( another additional document)


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 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)


PERISTENCE OF OLD BELIEFS

Witch Hunts

15th - 18th centuries: @ 100,000 executed for witchcraft

SABBATS, ritual murder, cannibalism

Demons, devils



Witch Hunts

82% of accused = women

Targets =• non-conforming women• marginalized women• midwives

Accusations included strong sexual component



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.

women and the scientific revolution

Documents