Beyond The Title

Mrs. Miss. Ms. Before she can even begin, a woman is not only defined by her gender, but by a marital status entirely irrelevant to her competence. A title precedes her work, and with it comes a myriad of biased assumptions. Even the possibility of ‘Dr’ is often contested, weighed down by presumption.

As an A-level Biology student, recognising patterns becomes routine. That being in exam mark schemes, essay timings or in that how seemingly every brilliant, innovative idea researched and conceived by a woman is attributed to a man. This appears foremost in scientific research, for example, where Rosalind Franklin remains held out of reach from textbook accreditation despite producing the X-ray data critical in identifying the double-helix structure of DNA. Instead, her work is often sidelined in textbooks and Nobel Prizes that enshrine her male contemporaries. It is often discouraging for aspiring girls in STEM when patterns like this continue to surface through history.

In a widely cited 2012 study, Moss-Racusin et al. demonstrated that science faculties were significantly more likely to rate male applicants as more competent and hireable than identical female applicants and further to offer them higher salaries. Women appear to be overlooked not due to lack of merit, but from persistent, preferential bias.

Accreditation is not only a matter of justice, it is a source of inspiration for generations of aspiring female scientists to come. Where research faculties fail to recognise women’s contributions, ambition begins to feel like an act of defiance rather than progression.

In 1993, historian Margaret Rossiter coined the term ‘Matilda Effect’ which aimed to describe the crippling impacts that pervasive stereotypes had in undervaluing women’s scientific contributions. It highlights that pre-conceived judgments are continuous, impeding women from achieving a position of undeniable status.

Though actions can seem small against ingrained stereotypes, each is a step toward greater equality. The Washington Post outlined a strategy used by women in the Obama White House known as the ‘amplification’ technique. When one woman put forward an idea, others deliberately repeated it, explicitly crediting the original speaker. This aimed to prevent contributions from being overlooked or credit misplaced. The strategy, though remarkably simple, was notably effective.

When so much can be twisted behind a title, women are left not only working harder, but fighting for credit long overdue. Reaching beyond the title means claiming the right to be judged by contribution rather than assumption, and to be celebrated accordingly when those contributions shape discovery. Through recognition there is power.