Hailey Waldo
editor@riverbendnews.org
During Women’s History Month, many people reflect on the women who helped shape society through activism, science, literature and innovation. One woman whose influence continues to shape how historians view women’s achievements is Matilda Joslyn Gage. Long before modern historians studied gender bias in history, Gage was already pointing out a troubling pattern: women were often responsible for groundbreaking ideas and discoveries, yet their contributions were frequently ignored or credited to men.
Born in 1826 in New York, Gage grew up in a household that valued education and reform. Her father, a physician and abolitionist, exposed her to political discussion about justice and equality from a young age. As she grew older, Gage became deeply involved in activism. She worked alongside leaders such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in the women’s suffrage movement, advocating for woman’s right to vote and broader equality under the law.
However, Gage’s activism went beyond voting rights. She also spoke out against religious oppression, supported Native American rights and criticized systems that limited women’s intellectual and professional opportunities.
While studying history and writing about women’s roles in society, Gage noticed a pattern that concerned her. Women throughout history had created inventions, contributed to scientific discoveries and produced important literary works, yet their names were rarely included in official records. In many cases, their ideas were credited to male colleagues, supervisors or even their husbands.
In 1870, Gage addressed this issue directly in an essay titled “Women as Inventor.” In the essay, she carefully documented examples of women whose work has been ignored or stolen. She argued that society often refused to acknowledge women as innovators because of deeply rooted cultural beliefs that underestimated women’s intellectual abilities. According to Gage, these biases did not just limit women’s opportunities but also distorted history itself by erasing the true creators behind many achievements.
More than a century later, historian Margret W. Rossiter revisited the issue while researching women in science. In 1993, Rossiter officially coined the term “Matilda Effect” in honor of Gage’s earlier work. The phrase describes a systematic tendency for women’s contributions to be overlooked or credited to male colleagues. By naming the phenomenon after Gage, Rossiter recognized the activist’s early efforts to expose the pattern.
Many historical examples show the Matilda Effect in action. One of the most well-known involves chemist Rosalind Franklin, whose X-ray diffraction image, known as “Photo 51,” provided evidence for the structure of DNA. Despite the groundbreaking and important implications of her research, the Nobel Prize for the discovery went to James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins. Franklin’s role in the discovery was only recognized years later.
Another example comes from nuclear physics. Lise Meitner, an Austrian physicist, helped explain the scientific theory behind nuclear fission. However, when the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for the discovery in 1944, it went only to her collaborator Otto Hahn.
The Matilda Effect also appears in technology and communication. Actress and inventor Hedy Lamar co-developed a frequency system designed to prevent enemy forces from intercepting radio signals during World War II. Although the invention later became a foundation for modern technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, Lamar received little recognition for her work for decades.
Even in literature, women’s ideas have been overshadowed by male authors. Many historians note that Zelda Fitzgerald contributed diaries, experiences, writing and creative ideas that influenced “The Great Gatsby.” Her husband, F. Scott Fitzgerald gets all the credit for the glamorous and chaotic world portrayed in “The Great Gatsby.” While F. Scott Fitzgerald remains the official author of the novel, scholars continue to debate the extent of Zelda’s influence and recognition on his work.
Although the Matilda Effect describes a pattern from the past, it remains an important reminder today. Historians and researchers are now revisiting older records to make sure that women receive proper credit for their discoveries and achievements. By reexamining these stories, scholars are helping restore recognition to many women whose contributions shaped science, literature and technology.
More than 150 years ago, Gage recognized history itself could be biased. Her determination to uncover the truth about women’s achievements helped spark a conversation that continues today. Thanks to her work, historians now have a way to name and challenge long-standing practices of overlooking women’s contributions.
As we recognize these stories today, it is also important to remember how hard women fought for the opportunities many now have. Generations before us pushed for the right to learn, to speak and to be recognized for their work. Their determination opened doors that once seemed impossible to enter. Today’s young women have the chance to build that legacy by pursuing education, standing confidently behind their ideas and striving to lead their communities. Remembering the women who fought for these rights honors the past and recognizing the opportunities they worked so hard to create.