Summary of A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman

A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman, by Londa Schiebinger, explores the life of groundbreaking female scientists through history. Beginning in the renaissance era and progressing through to the twentieth century, Schiebinger provides a sweeping look at the lives of female trailblazers in science. She explores the obstacles these women faced in being accepted as scientific equals in a male-dominated world, and the successes they achieved despite these limitations. Throughout the book, Schiebinger offers vivid examples of the power of these early female scientists, and provides insightful interpretation of how they carved out paths for subsequent generations of females in science. In conclusion, she offers a compelling argument that women are essential to the progress of science and that stereotypes should not be allowed to stand in the way of female advancement in the field.