1. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
Reactions by
Both men
And women
Context for DBQ

2. Contextualization:
Universities, Coffeehouses, royal societies and salons
Were places independent of the scrutiny of the Catholic church
To challenge the mysteries of the universe. The deists were individuals
Who believed God created natural laws and natural rights for
Mankind to discover utilizing scientific methodology. Women were
Involved but to what extent? While women had been domestic
Servants and midwives and healers, some gained access to education
And could become artists, writers and even aid in scientific discovery.
Patriarchy still persisted and even attempted to scientifically explain
Women as inferior, prone to their emotions and physiology. Natural
Rights, however would soon see the rise of a feminist movement.

4. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
EFFECT ON WOMEN
Little change in views of women’s inferiority or restriction of women’s roles
In many ways, may have deepened inferiority & restrictions
But women participated in new scientific discoveries
Male Reactions: Contradicted the traditional role of women ( Doc #1) …she neglected her household
Attractiveness over cerebral ( doc #3)…had been attractive ( but)… nor did I hear her say anything worth hearing

5. Men’s reactions continued…
As husband and collaborator ( doc #4) astronomical research ( favorable)
(Doc #6) suggests the legality of women receiving a doctorate from university ( does not oppose education in music and art ( definitely unfavorable but moderate in its approach that women could receive some education)
(Doc #5) unfavorable that women should be granted entry into the academy of science in Berlin( even though Maria Winkelman is a widow ( suggesting some compassion) there is ridicule of her contributions

6. Document #2 is written by a woman and attempts to
“simplify chemistry for women”. She appears unsure that
She is out of place but continues that minds have no sex. She
Appears conflicted with the patriarchy of the time and the purpose
That female minds should be cultivated like that of men.
Document #8 Marquise Emilie du Chatelet
Writing this letter to a male begs Saint-Lambert
To understand the balancing of both her worlds to work copiously and perhaps harder to translate
Prnicipia by Newton as a work of sacrifice and
Gains wisdom through her industrious work ethic.

7. Not all women agreed with the role of women in science:
Document #7 suggests that women should not study the hard sciences
As it is beyond their comprehension. She suggests that they should be
With their grace and beauty and to let the men worry about the medicine
And astronomy

8. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
Persistence of ancient ideas
Aristotle, Hippocrates & Galen
“Four humors”
Misconceptions about female physiology

9. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
New views & discoveries
Greater accuracy in understanding female anatomy
Led to notion of pervasiveness of gender differences

10. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
MARIA CUNITZ ( )
Made important discoveries in astronomy
Proficient in 7 languages, mathematics, medicine, history, music, painting & poetry ( additional document to illustrate contributions made)
Crater Cunitz on Venus

11. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
MARGARET CAVENDISH ( )
Wrote 7 works of science & philosophy
Promoted individual rational capacity ( another additional document)

12. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
ANNA MARIA VAN SCHURMAN ( )
Widely renowned for knowledge
Promoted women’s education for moral improvement ( yet another additional document)

13. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
WOMEN IN SCIENCE
EMILIE DU CHATELET, ( )
First (and only) to translate Newton’s work into French
Published own original works building on Newtonian ideas( oh my, yet another additional document)

14. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
PERISTENCE OF OLD BELIEFS
Demons, devils
Witch Hunts
SABBATS, ritual murder, cannibalism
15th - 18th 100,000 executed for witchcraft

15. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
PERISTENCE OF OLD BELIEFS
Witch Hunts
82% of accused = women
Accusations included strong sexual component
Targets =
non-conforming women
marginalized women
midwives

16. WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
PERISTENCE OF OLD BELIEFS
Witch Hunts
First conducted by religious authorities
Process taken over by secular courts by 17th c.
Used torture to extract “confessions”
“Water torture”
“Witch chair”

17. Thesis: The reaction of women’s participation within the scientific
Revolution was politically eschewed ( dismissed) by Royal societies and
Universities alike , men predominantly believed that a women’s role was
Household although many would contribute as collaborators. While
Many women would advance the cause of science, their male ( and female)
Detractors would prevent their admission into royal societies, universities
And publishing marginalizing their historical role in the scientific
Revolution..

18. Synthesis:
The application of natural laws to science provided the inspiration
Of natural rights to the enlightenment. These ideas inspired
Political Revolutions ( America, France, Haiti, Latin America and
Mexico) and inspire equal rights to women in a movement known
As feminism to provide equal rights under law for women. The
Leaders of these movements (like women in science) would not
Gain their acknowledgement until 2 world wars would be fought
And still fight around the world with movements like #metoo and
Modern feminist revival like the equal rights amendment.