Women Who Broke Through Their Fields of Study | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Women Who Broke Through Their Fields of Study

From psychology to computer science.

63
Women Who Broke Through Their Fields of Study
The 7 Most Inspiring Ad Campaigns

From the field of psychology to the field of computer science, women had to break through many barriers of segregation. These women and many others are the reason girls today are encouraged in these fields nearly as much as boys. They were hard workers and ambitious. All of this led them to success, despite the trials of segregation they faced.

1. Mary Whiton Calkins:

Mary Whiton Calkins was the student of William James. William James was the leader of the functionalist movement. All of his other students, who were male, left his tutelage because he agreed to teach Mary Whiton Calkins. William James continued to teach her anyways. She flourished in her studies of psychology, completing all the necessary requirements to receive a PhD from Harvard. However, they refused to relinquish the degree she earned. They told her she could receive an undergraduate degree from their sister school. Calkins seemed to think this degrading to her work, and refused the proffered degree. Instead she continued to work and study in the field of psychology, becoming an influential individual in the field as well as the first woman president of APA.

2. Mary Wollstonecraft:

Mary Wollstonecraft was an influential writer during the 1700's. She was very vocal in controversial issues, advocating for the poor and suppressed. She wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Men" in support of the poor. Later on when women's rights to education were questioned, Mary Wollstonecraft wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Women". Within it she not only advocates for women's rights to education, but she also mentions many modern day feminist concepts. She thought women could be educated just as men could, and should therefore be treated equal to men. Her pieces allowed for her to break through the literary world as an influential writer.

3. Mary Kenneth Keller:

Mary Kenneth Keller was a nun at the Sisters of Charity. She studied at DePaul University. While there she received a Bachelors in Mathematics and a Masters in in Mathematics and Physics. Not much is known about her past, aside from the educational institutions she attended. She'd studied at a multitude of learning environments such as Purdue and Dartmouth. When Dartmouth allowed women in the computer center, Keller was able to develop the computer language BASIC. She wrote "Inductive Inference on Computer Generated Patterns". This allowed her to become the first woman to receive a PhD in Computer Science.

4. Margaret Floy Washburn:

As previously mentioned, Harvard refused Mary Whiton Calkin her PhD in psychology. Ironically they originally did the same thing with Margaret Floy Washburn. However, she was eventually the first granted a PhD in psychology. Not only did she breakthrough the world of psychology by being the first female with a PhD in the field of study, but she also became the second woman after Mary Whiton Calkins to be the president of APA. She also wrote "The Animal Mind" which was the first work based on animal cognition. Her ability to breakthrough the field of psychology was an accomplish in itself. As was the accomplishments of these other women. What makes them truly astounding is that despite all the odds they broke through the fields, not just as women, but as original thinkers.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl
Pexels

In case you're unaware, "resting bitch face" is the term used to describe when a person's natural, expressionless face makes it look like they are mad at the world. Whether they are walking down the street or simply spacing out thinking about what to eat for dinner, it's very easy for others to assume that this person is either upset or mad at them. Because of this, those of us with Resting Bitch Face (RBF), and especially us women, have all experienced many of the same situations and conversations, including:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

The Stages Of A Crush As Told By The Cast of "Bob's Burgers"

We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

791
my heart just pooped its pants
Google

We've all had a crush before. Whether it leads to something or nothing, the process has all been the same. The awkward feelings, the stalking, and the stress of trying to keep this huge secret. The feeling of becoming a total spazz is something that cannot be avoided, and the most spazzy family that can relate to this feeling is the Belcher's.

Keep Reading...Show less
you didnt come this far to only come this far lighted text
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

At the tender age of 18, we are bestowed with the title of “adult.” For 17 years, we live under the rules and guidelines of our parents, school, and government, and to stray from any of those rules or guidelines marks us as a rebel. At 18, though, we must choose which college we want to go to or what career we want. We are allowed and encouraged to vote. We can buy lottery tickets and cigarettes. We can drop out of school, leave our household, and do other "adult" things. At 18, we start down a path of thinking for ourselves, when for the entirety of our lives other institutions have been mandated to think and do for us.

Keep Reading...Show less
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1770
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments