"There have been very learned women as there have been women lawyers,
but there have never been women inventors"- Voltaire
DEVALUATION OF FEMALE CONTRIBUTION
History has always recognized contributions men have made to the society through innovation and technology; however, can the same be said about women? Historians have been criticized for not putting enough emphasis on gendered issues such as the division of labor between men and women and women's social, political, and economic contributions (Khan, 2000, p.1). History books are proof that men receive more recognition for their innovations and technological advances. As the pages of history books are turned, many innovative men are named that may or may not deserve credit for their contribution. Because of the lack of recognition that female innovators receive, many people associate the industrial revolution to men (Khan, 2000, p. 1). Societal views, laws, and personal choices are to blame for the devaluation the female contributions to innovation and technology.
Today, societal views have somewhat changed, and now historians are trying to give women the recognition that they deserve, but little is known about the women's technological contributions for two reasons: 1. scholars did not pay very much attention to the women's contribution to technology, and 2. scholars argued that women's contributions to technology had only a small affect on the lives of women who left the workforce to become a housewife (Khan, 2000, p. 1). Argument is void because inventions made by women led to, "time reduction and lower prices for household goods at the margin" (Khan 2000, p. 2).
Today, societal views have somewhat changed, and now historians are trying to give women the recognition that they deserve, but little is known about the women's technological contributions for two reasons: 1. scholars did not pay very much attention to the women's contribution to technology, and 2. scholars argued that women's contributions to technology had only a small affect on the lives of women who left the workforce to become a housewife (Khan, 2000, p. 1). Argument is void because inventions made by women led to, "time reduction and lower prices for household goods at the margin" (Khan 2000, p. 2).
Omitting Women from the U.S. Patent Registry
The U.S. Patent Office was founded in 1790. On the 100th year anniversary of the Patent Office, Charlotte Smith, a women's rights activist, asked the office to assemble a list of women who had received patents. Printed in 1890, the list was aptly named Women Inventors to Whom Patents Have Been Granted by the United States Government, 1790 to July 1, 1888. According to Patent Office documents, only 500 copies of the list were printed, each sold for 50 cents per copy, at a time when average wage ranged from $3 to $6 a week.
Important as the list was, in exhibiting the contributions women had made to technology and to society as a whole, it also omitted countless women who has also received patents. Some omissions were women who had made less of impact with their inventions. For example, in 1822 Bernice West received a patent for her improvements to window and shutter fasteners. Yet, many of the omissions were women who made significant contributions to technology. Some of the major omissions include:
Hierarchy versus "Network form"
Depending on the type of inventor a women is; it is proven that when it comes to patents it is much more like for a women to receive a patent when they are in the network form. This means that women who do not work in firms are more likely to receive a patent than a women who is in a firm that is hierarchy which usually gives most credit to men because they are the ones in the top positions in that organizations. (Whittington, Smith-Doerr) These firm are usually for bio-sceince inventions. In the network form women are more freely to express ideas and are able to take control over studies they may want to patent unlike the hierarchy firms that will but women inventions under scrutiny by men higher up in firm before an invention can even make it to patent level.
The U.S. Patent Office was founded in 1790. On the 100th year anniversary of the Patent Office, Charlotte Smith, a women's rights activist, asked the office to assemble a list of women who had received patents. Printed in 1890, the list was aptly named Women Inventors to Whom Patents Have Been Granted by the United States Government, 1790 to July 1, 1888. According to Patent Office documents, only 500 copies of the list were printed, each sold for 50 cents per copy, at a time when average wage ranged from $3 to $6 a week.
Important as the list was, in exhibiting the contributions women had made to technology and to society as a whole, it also omitted countless women who has also received patents. Some omissions were women who had made less of impact with their inventions. For example, in 1822 Bernice West received a patent for her improvements to window and shutter fasteners. Yet, many of the omissions were women who made significant contributions to technology. Some of the major omissions include:
- Charity Shaw Long- created the remedy for consumption in 1812
- Junia Chittenden- invented a device to improve machinery that propelled boats in 1822
- Mary P. Carpenter- invented the self-setting needle for sewing machines
- Geneva Armstrong- improved livestock train cars
- *Mildred Blakely- designed heavy machinery to be used in manufacturing industries. Blakely received at least 15 patents in her lifetime, including a patent for a gasoline engine, but only one patent was listed with the Patent Office, a patent granted for her invention of a welding key...
- *Sophia Woodhouse Welles- creator of the "Wethersfield Hat". Her hat was a popular accessory at the time, and she was ultimately awarded a silver medal for her hats at the Society of Arts in London in 1821.
Hierarchy versus "Network form"
Depending on the type of inventor a women is; it is proven that when it comes to patents it is much more like for a women to receive a patent when they are in the network form. This means that women who do not work in firms are more likely to receive a patent than a women who is in a firm that is hierarchy which usually gives most credit to men because they are the ones in the top positions in that organizations. (Whittington, Smith-Doerr) These firm are usually for bio-sceince inventions. In the network form women are more freely to express ideas and are able to take control over studies they may want to patent unlike the hierarchy firms that will but women inventions under scrutiny by men higher up in firm before an invention can even make it to patent level.
Some FEMALE Inventions that MEN Hold/Held Patents For...
The invention
The Paper Bag Machine
Monopoly
Cotton Gin
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Woman Inventor
After the Civil War, MARGARET KNIGHT worked in a paper bag plant when she discovered that items would be easier to fit in a paper bag if the bottom was flat. As a result, she created the paper bag machine, but a man named CHARLES ANNAN stole her invention and patented the machine before she could. When Knight took the case to court, Annan argued that a woman was not capable of producing such an innovative design; however, Knight proved the invention was her idea and she won the case. As a result, her machine was not patented until 1871.
Source: http://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography/biographies/margaret-knight/ ELIZABETH MAGIE created The Landlords' Game (the precursor to Monopoly) which was patented in 1904. The purpose of the game was to illustrate the discrepancies of the land system, but CHARLES DARROW presented the same game with small twists (such as the name and collect after GO) and sold it to the Parker Brothers in 1934. Only after the game became a success did they buy the game for a small amount of money from the elderly ELIZABETH MAGIE.
Source: http://mentalfloss.com/article/48787/retrobituaries-elizabeth-lizzie-magie-inventor-monopoly ELI WHITNEY is credited for the invention of the cotton gin; however, CATHERINE GREENE is responsible for telling Whitney what he needed to add/take away from the machine to make it work. Therefore, Catherine Greene is responsible for the first functioning cotton gin. Source:http://www.findingdulcinea.com/features/profiles/l/catharine-littlefield-greene.html
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