Women Inventors As Role Models

Gender bias can affect selection of inventions for patenting and the support provided to inventors. It is imperative to combat these stereotypes and create an environment that is more equal for female inventors. Unfortunately, there are many male stereotypes that continue to dominate the field. One of the best ways to combat these biases is to showcase the accomplishments of women inventors as role models for young women to gain confidence and encourage them to pursue careers in STEM. Emmy Noether

The story of Emmy Noether is one of perseverance and inspiration. She worked without pay for seven years, but was eventually invited to join the faculty at the University of Gottingen as a lecturer. Her supervisor was a man, so she lectured under his name. Ida Hyde

Ida Henrietta Hyde was a woman scientist who became known for her work on the intracellular microelectrode. She was a single mother and had to work part-time jobs in order to finance her education. Her studies led her to develop an electrode to stimulate cells and record their electrical activity. Hyde's work is still used in many science laboratories today. Maria E. Beasley

Women inventors are not limited to the gender they are born with. American entrepreneur and inventor Maria E. Beasley was born in North Carolina and had a lifelong interest in mechanical work. She learned barrel-making from her grandfather. Her inventions made the barreling process much easier. Shirley Ann Jackson

Shirley Ann Jackson is a woman inventor who made numerous advances in science and technology. During her early career, she worked for Bell Labs, helping to develop the touch tone phone and fiber optic cables. She was also a consultant to Bell Labs on semiconductor theory. In 1995, she was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where she served for four years. After this, she became the 18th President of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where she continues to serve. She will continue to hold that position until her contract expires in 2020. Josephine Cochrane

Josephine Cochrane was an American inventor who developed one of the world's most important inventions - the automatic dishwasher. She designed and constructed it in a shed behind her home with mechanic George Butters, her first employee. The result was the first commercially successful dishwasher. Helen Blanchard

Helen Blanchard was the daughter of a wealthy merchant from Portland, Maine. She followed a traditional path in her early years until she was forced to sell her homestead and lost her father's money in the 1866 business panic. As a result of her father's financial losses, she reinvented herself and became a prolific inventor. Her patented inventions included a sewing machine and a pencil sharpener. Anna Connelly

Anna Connelly is credited with being America's first female inventor. She invented a fire escape that connected buildings with an iron railed bridge to save lives during a fire. Her invention led to building codes in New York City that required buildings to have a second means of egress. Her invention saved lives for the next 150 years. Anna Tsukamoto

Ann Tsukamoto is a stem cell researcher and inventor. She co-patented a method for isolating human stem cells. Her patent was granted in 1991.