Women and Science Free Essay Example, 3750 words

In what is now called the First Wave of Feminism, the feminist movement in the U. K began a little before Ada s death, in 1850, when feminists like Barbara Bodichon and Bessie Parkes began an organised movement with its headquarters at Langham Place in London, eventually going on to publish the English Woman s Journal from 1858 onwards. The First Wave of Feminism brought about reform in the girls secondary school system, also allowing girls to take national examinations, thus opening venues of higher education and access to professions like science and medicine. 4 Ada Byron could not, unfortunately, benefit from the achievements of the First Wave of Feminism. She was barred from taking higher education, as women were not considered worthy for such studies during her time. She abandoned her scholarly hopes and, in keeping with social conventions, got married {to the Earl of Lovelace} and eventually gave birth to 3 children. Ada was forced to remain away from her beloved mathematics for a long period of 9 years. The fourth momentous event in Ada s life that occurred in 1843 brought about a radical about-turn vis- -vis her relationship with the study. We will write a custom essay sample on Women and Science or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page This culminated in Ada publishing an article in 1843 where she foretold that a calculating machine such as Babbage s Analytical Engine could be employed to create graphics, compose music and put to scientific as well as practical uses.