The Matilda effect is a speculated bias against acknowledging the achievements of women scientists whose work is attributed to their male colleagues. This phenomenon was first described by suffragist and abolitionist Matilda Joslyn Gage (1826–1898) in her essay, "Woman as Inventor" (first published as a tract in 1870 and in the North American Review in 1883). The term Matilda effect was coined in 1993 by science historian Margaret W. Rossiter. Rossiter provides several examples of this effect. Trotula (Trota of Salerno), a 12th-century Italian woman physician, wrote books which, after her death, were attributed to male authors. Nineteenth- and twentieth-century cases illustrating the Matilda effect include those of Nettie Stevens, Lise Meitner, Marietta Blau, Rosalind Franklin, and Jocelyn Bell Burnell. The Matilda effect was compared to the Matthew effect, whereby an eminent scientist often gets more credit than a comparatively unknown researcher, even if their work is shared or similar.

Research

In 2012, Marieke van den Brink and Yvonne Benschop from Radboud University Nijmegen showed that in the Netherlands the sex of professorship candidates influences the evaluation made of them. Similar cases are described by Andrea Cerroni and Zenia Simonella in a study corroborated further by a Spanish study. On the other hand, several studies found no difference between citations and impact of publications of male authors and those of female authors. Swiss researchers have indicated that mass media asks male scientists more often to contribute on shows than they do their female fellow scientists. According to one U.S. study, "although overt gender discrimination generally continues to decline in American society," "women continue to be disadvantaged with respect to the receipt of scientific awards and prizes, particularly for research."

Examples

Examples of women subjected to the Matilda effect: Examples of men scientists favored over women scientists for Nobel Prizes:

"No more Matildas"

The Spanish Association of Women Researchers and Technologists (AMIT) has created a movement called "No more Matildas" that honours Matilda Joslyn Gage. The campaign's goal is to promote the number of women in science from an early age, eliminating stereotypes.

Other

Ben Barres (1954–2017) was a neurobiologist at Stanford University Medical School who transitioned from female to male. He spoke of his scientific achievements having been perceived differently, depending on what sex others thought he was at the time. Prior to his transition to male, Barres' scientific achievements were ascribed to men or devalued, but after transitioning to male, his achievements were credited to him and lauded.