The dark Universe for women: Gender and Science in Vera Rubin’s career in Astronomy

Abstract

The recurring absence of women scientists in the “naiver” narratives of the History of Science reinforces a widely held view that intellectual production is the result of the efforts of primarily male scientists. To circumvent this scenario, Gender and Science studies suggest approaching historical narratives that focus on the contributions and trajectories of women scientists. In science education, recognizing the identities of those characters who have played leading roles in the construction of science enables teachers and students understand the contribution of a diversity of people in the scientific enterprise. In this sense, this article seeks to expose aspects of gender relations manifested in the academic career of the American astronomer Vera Rubin, recognized for her studies on galaxies that provided evidence for the existence of dark matter in the Universe. The biographical research is based on primary literature, such as autobiographical essays and interviews, as well as secondary literature, including biographies about the scientist. The main reference for discussions on Gender and Science is the studies of historian Londa Schiebinger. Based on a critical analysis of women’s structural difficulties in maintaining their position in the academic and scientific world, paths are outlined for reversing this scenario.