When we think of someone great or wonder who has invented marvelous stuff, a male human being may come to our minds first. However, we might not have realized that women also played important roles in shaping societies. Throughout the history of humankind, women have been contributing to society in many areas including science, technology, agriculture, education and health.

Women’s contribution in the area of science.

Like their male counterparts, women have been very active in science for many centuries. Marie Curie (1867-1934) was a famous Polish scientist and a noble prize laureate who discovered the elements of polonium and radium which was used to heal injuries during the first world war. She also formulated the theory of radioactivity and discovered a way to separate radio isotopes.

Rachel Carson (1907-1964) was an American naturist and marine biologist and writer who wrote to encourage the global environmental movement. Maria Goeppert-Mayer (1906-1972) was a German scientist who proposed the nuclear shell model which is now used to describe the structure of the atomic nucleus in terms of energy level.

Women’s contribution in the area of technology.

Women also make good inventors. The pedal bin found in many homes was invented by American Liillian Moller Gilbreth who lived from 1878 to 1972. According to Answers.com, she also invented shelving for the refrigerator door.

Women’s contribution in the area of transportation.

Women have made many important contributions in the area of transportation especially in the area of safety and communication. Mary Anderson (1866–1953) invented the windshield wiper in 1905 to enable drivers to see more clearly when it is raining or snowing. According to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Anderson’s invention became a standard feature in every American car from 1913 onwards.Today, it is hard to imagine a modern automobile without windscreen wipers.

The signal flares used by ships to communicate with one another was invented in 1858 by Martha Coston. The railway crossing gate was invented by Mary I. Riggin sometime in the nineteenth century.

Bertha Benz, the wife of the inventor of the automobile Karl Benz, became the first woman to drive in 1888. Her action brought in international attention to the automobile which helped the first sale of her husband’s invention  Today, millions of the people from all over the world drive automobiles.  

Women’s contribution in the area of agriculture.

Women are great contributors to the area of agriculture. In 2007, about 41% of the people working in the field of agriculture in the world are women.

Women’s contribution in the area of health.

Women has made great contributions in the area of health. Florence Nightingale invented modern nursing in 1860. The Nightingale Pledge that is taken by new nurses is named after her. Today, nursing is one of the important professions in the area of health care and it is hard to imagine a hospital without nurses.

Virginia Apgar invented the Agpar Score in 1949 to access the health of a newborn child. A drug to fight against leukemia was invented by Gertrude Elion in 1954. Elion also invented Azathioprine also known as Imuran, a drug used for organ transplants which are carried out for saving lives.

Women’s contribution in the area of Information Technology.

Without programs, a computer cannot really help us to solve problems. Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the poet Lord Byron became the world’s first computer programmer when she wrote a set of instructions for the Analytical Engine during the nineteenth century, Today, there is a programming language named after her.

As it is in the past, women will continue to make major contributions to society to make life easier and better for everyone.