Lab of One's Own: Science and Suffrage in the First World War

In 2018, a double centenary was celebrated: peace was declared in war-wracked Europe, and women won the vote after decades of struggle. A Lab of One s Own commemorates these anniversaries by revealing the untold lives of female scientists, doctors, and engineers who undertook endeavors normally reserved for men. The book tells fascinating and extraordinary stories of initiative, determination, and isolation set against a backdrop of war, prejudice, and disease. It investigates the enterprising careers of these pioneering women and their impact on science, medicine, and the First World War. Suffrage campaigners aligned themselves with scientific and technological progress, mobilizing women to enter conventionally male domains. The war revolutionized the industrial position of women, finding them serfs and leaving them free, but they had lost the battle for equality. A Lab of One s Own is essential reading to understand and eliminate the inequalities still affecting professional women today.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 10 September 2019
Publisher: Oxford University Press

In 2018, a remarkable double centenary unfolded, marking significant milestones that reverberated across Europe. Firstly, peace was declared in the war-ravaged continent, bringing an end to decades of conflict. Secondly, women secured the right to vote, a hard-fought victory achieved through tireless struggle. A Lab of One's Own pays tribute to these two anniversaries by delving into the untold stories of female scientists, doctors, and engineers who ventured into fields traditionally reserved for men. Through captivating and extraordinary narratives, the book showcases the indomitable spirit, determination, and isolation of these pioneering women, set against the backdrop of war, prejudice, and disease. Patricia Fara embarks on a captivating investigation into the remarkable careers of these pioneering women and their profound impact on science, medicine, and the First World War.

Suffrage campaigners, recognizing the symbiotic relationship between scientific and technological progress and women's rights, aligned themselves with this cause. In defiance of protests about their intellectual inferiority and child-bearing responsibilities, they mobilized women to enter conventionally male domains during the War. A Lab of One's Own specifically highlights the female experts who undertook vital research. These women had already demonstrated exceptional resilience by challenging societal norms and pursuing their careers, and now they played a crucial role in winning the War both at home and overseas.

In 1919, suffragist Millicent Fawcett declared triumphantly that the war had revolutionized the industrial position of women. She believed that women had been liberated from their servitude and had gained newfound freedom. However, Fawcett's assessment was incomplete. While women had indeed contributed to the country's victory and secured the vote for those over thirty, they had lost the battle for equality. A Lab of One's Own serves as an essential reading tool to understand and address the inequalities that still persist in professional women's lives today. By shedding light on the experiences of these remarkable women, the book encourages us to work towards a more inclusive and equitable society where gender does not hinder achievement or limit opportunities.

Weight: 356g
Dimension: 135 x 216 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198794998