Recognizing female inventors — impact-driven category spotlight — Matilda Joslyn Gage

When all humanity works for humanity, when the life-business of men and women becomes one united partnership in all matters which concern each, when neither sex, race, color, or previous condition is held as a bar to the exercise of human faculties, the world will hold in its hands the promise of a millennium which will work out its own fulfillment. — Matilda Joslyn Gage

How telling is that quote. Matilda Joslyn Gage died in 1898. A century and a half later we are still debating who is included in “all humanity.” The decisions made by those in power continue to affect the vulnerable the most. What a sad state of affairs. If I lived 150 years ago and I dedicated my life to activism as Matilda did, I don’t think I would be able to bear the situation we are in today.

In some areas, the progress has been almost magical. In others especially when it comes to the question of rights, we seem woefully ignorant.

But we are here today to learn about Matilda Joslyn Gage. An impact-driven category leader.

Photo by Viktoria Slowikowska from Pexels

She was born in 1826 in Cicero, New York. She was brought up in a free-thinking household. Naturally, she found society to be not so amenable. She wanted to a medical professional. But was rejected on the basis of sex. She then directed all her energies to activism.

There is a comprehensive timeline of her life on matildajoslyngage.org.

But I would like to highlight key impacts:

1. In the 1850s she started writing in newspapers
2. On the 4th of October, she signs a petition saying that she would rather pay a $1000 fine and a 6-month prison term. This “punishment” is for helping/harboring escaping slavery. It's worth noting that a $1000 fine over 150 years ago is about $23,000 today
3. Gives her first speech at the national women’s rights convention in 1852
4. In 1862 in direct contradiction to President Lincoln, she addresses soldiers of the civil war. She says they are fighting for the freedom of all citizens and for the end of slavery
5. In 1870, her most pivotal impact. She researches and publishes “Woman as Inventor.” This vital essay eventually leads to Margaret W. Rossiter naming the Matilda Effect after her
6. In 1872 when Susan B Anthony is on trial for voting, Matilda gives a speech titled “The United States on Trial, not Susan B. Anthony.”

Matilda has also authored numerous books.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The impact she had on women’s rights, slavery, and suffrage is immeasurable. Let’s dive into her most impact-driven work — the essay title “Woman as Inventor.”

It’s such a fascinating read. The level of detail and research that was done is mind-boggling. Her central focus is to debunk the myth that women “possess no inventive or mechanical genius.”

I will try and give a brief summary.

She goes back to Isis, the Incas, the empresses of China, Suwarati, and others to highlight how early civilizations worshipped women for their inventions. She speaks of the Greek gods and historians who highlighted the value of the inventions and not the gender of the inventor.

She highlights different industries — silk, cotton gin, straw and the long-standing economic impact of these innovations. All of them were invented by women.

The list of women, the inventions, and the undeniable impact they have had on shaping humanity is indisputable. I am truly humbled to be able to write this post about Matilda.

Back to 2021, it truly is preposterous that we need to continually remind the instrumental role women play in society. This quote by Matilda is a fitting end:

While so much is said of the inferior intellect of woman, it is by a strange absurdity conceded that very many eminent men owe their station in life to their mothers. — Source https://www.azquotes.com/quote/819785