Women and science: challenges and achievements

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the challenges and the achievements of women in science in the western modern society. Throughout History, there have been pioneer women who produced scientific knowledge in spite of the prejudices and discriminations, but who were kept in invisibility just because they were women. The studies on gender and science brought them into visibility. There were two kinds of challenges the women had to overcome: the customs of a patriarchal and male chauvinist society and the sexual division of work in family which kept them home, doing housework and taking care of the dependent family members. This has brought an inequality between men and women concerning the work time dedicated to science – inequality that persists until now. As for achievements, we consider that, in the present days, the women are the majority at the universities of different countries, including Brazil. There are a lot of women working in research institutions but the most important positions are occupied by men. Women are the majority in health and human sciences and men are most present in the exact and technological sciences. Finally we leave a question for reflection: does the participation of women in science bring changes on the scientific paradigm?