𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌: 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐚 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭
What innovations have we lost because a girl once heard the words, “Science isn’t for you”? As we commemorate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February, we reflect not only on the women who shaped scientific history but also on the many whose contributions were dismissed, forgotten, or erased. Their stories remind us why encouraging girls to pursue STEM is not just important, it is essential for global progress.

At the heart of this issue lies the 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐚 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭, a term used to describe the long-standing pattern of overlooking or misattributing women’s scientific achievements. This effect reveals a painful truth: women have always contributed to science, but history hasn’t always allowed them to be seen.

𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞
The story of women in STEM stretches back centuries, long before laboratories, universities, or modern careers existed. One of the earliest examples is Agnodice, an Athenian woman who defied strict laws that forbade women from practicing medicine. Determined to help the women of her city, she disguised herself as a man and became a skilled midwife physician. Her popularity grew quickly, so quickly, in fact, that male physicians accused her of impropriety.

When she courageously revealed her true identity to defend herself, she exposed not only her innocence but the injustice of the restrictions placed upon women. Her case sparked public outrage and ultimately pushed lawmakers to rethink the role of women in medicine. Agnodice’s story shows that even in ancient times, women were innovating, healing, and leading, often at great personal risk.

𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐧, 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝
Centuries later, the pattern continued. In the early 1900s, Mary Anderson witnessed a streetcar driver repeatedly stopping to wipe snow from his windshield. Seeing a problem that needed solving, she designed and patented the first manual windshield wiper in 1903.

Although her invention greatly improved driver safety, manufacturers dismissed it as unnecessary. Anderson’s patent expired before cars became widespread, and just a few years later, windshield wipers became standard features on every vehicle, without her receiving any recognition or financial benefit.

Her story is a textbook example of the Matilda Effect: a woman innovates, the world benefits, but the credit never reaches her name.

𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐞
Fortunately, not all stories are lost to history. Today, women like Ariellah Rosenberg show girls what is possible when passion meets opportunity. Starting her career as a science teacher and later working in a science museum, Ariellah built her life around making science accessible and exciting. Now, as the CEO of ORT SA, she leads initiatives that equip young people with skills in coding, robotics, digital literacy, and technology.

Her journey, from classroom to leadership, matters. Representation is powerful. When girls see women thriving in STEM roles, they begin to imagine themselves in those spaces too. It sends a clear message: you belong here.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲
Even now, girls begin doubting their abilities in math’s and science as early as primary school. These gaps aren’t rooted in capability, they’re rooted in confidence, stereotypes, and a lack of visible role models. As girls grow older, these barriers widen, resulting in fewer women pursuing STEM subjects in high school, university, and professional fields.

This isn’t just a gender issue, it’s a global issue. The world needs diverse thinkers to solve complex challenges: climate change, public health, technological innovation, environmental sustainability, and more. When girls are pushed away from STEM, we lose ideas, discoveries, and innovations that could change the world. ORT SA plays a critical role in empowering girls to build brighter, more ambitious futures. Through dynamic STEM programmes that focus on innovation, problem solving, and creativity, ORT SA equips girls with both the skills and the confidence to pursue careers in science and technology. Each project, each robot built, each piece of code written is a step toward dismantling outdated stereotypes and building a more inclusive future

𝐀 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝
Encouraging girls to pursue STEM is not just about equity, it’s about unlocking the full potential of the next generation. When we recognise the women who paved the way, challenge the biases that still exist, and actively empower young girls to explore and excel, we don’t just change their lives, we change the future of science, innovation, and society

𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.
𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬.
𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬: 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫.