The Life of Marie Curie and Her Impact on Feminism in the Sciences

Chemist Marie Curie had an incredible impact on the field of chemistry by discovering radium and polonium and being the first person to win two Nobel Prizes - one in physics and one in chemistry. Despite the extreme sexism that she faced as a female scientist, she still made a lasting impact in the chemistry and feminism through her accomplishments. Today, women make about half of the United States’ workforce and 57 percent of college graduates, yet they remain underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields. For this project, we investigated the influence of Marie Curie’s life on feminism in her time, and its continued effects into the 21st century. Through an extensive review of peer-reviewed literature, we explored her personal life and scientific career, her growing role in the growing feminist movement during the 20th century, and the evolution of female representation in STEM. We hypothesize that she dismantled several systemic barriers in the sciences, paving the way for other women to enter these male-dominated spaces. However, it is evident that this misbalanced representation of women in fields of STEM still exists today, which highlights the need for continued efforts to support and retain women in scientific careers.