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bridges vol. 16, December 2007 / Letter from the Editor Dear Reader, "Oratio qua ostenditur artium liberalium studia femineo sexu neutiquam abhorrere" is not an early Latin Christmas blessing, but rather the title of one of the earliest discourses on the role of women in science. Translated as: "a discourse to show that liberal [arts] studies were not unsuited to the female gender," the paper was written in 1727 in Milan, Italy, by the Catholic abbot Niccolo Gemelli for (and probably about) his brightest private student, Maria Gaetana Agnesi. Then nine years old, Maria translated the paper from its original Italian into Latin, and recited it during a gathering of academics at her father's house. As an adult, Maria wrote the first (still existing) mathematics text by a woman, and was the first woman to hold the post of mathematics professor at a university. Despite not having read the whole discourse, I can certainly agree with its message. Since the Age of the Enlightenment, women in search of education and scientific knowledge have made a long journey. For example, only since 1946 have women in Austria been allowed to study at any faculty they wish: Although admission of women to the Philosophical Faculty was granted in 1897, it was almost 50 years later, in 1946, that the last male bastion, the Faculty of Catholic Theology, finally opened its lecture halls to female students. In comparison, this level of full academic access was not available to American women until the 1960s. Access to the full article is free, but requires you to register. Registration is simple and quick – all we need is your name and a valid e-mail address. We appreciate your interest in bridges. |
