Unfortunately, in the past, women have not received enough recognition for their work in science. However, Barbara McClintock is an exception. McClintock was a geneticist who made many discoveries in science in the twentieth century. However, she had to face many barriers because of her status as a woman in this male-dominated profession. She had to face anti-female bias and other challenges from the beginning of her education to the end of her scientific career. McClintock was able to overcome the obstacles she faced as a woman and achieve success as a scientist through her determination, intense curiosity, and passion for science.
Barbara McClintock was born on June 16, 1902, in Hartford, Connecticut (Tracy). When she was born, the terms
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Her parents did not believe that college was the correct place for a woman, and instead, Barbara was expected to get married. Women did not have careers; they were expected to stay at home and watch the kids. There was no need for them to go to college. Thankfully, Barbara did not get married, despite her mother’s wishes. Her desire to attend college was strong, but she had other limitations: finances. Her family was not wealthy, but Barbara still longed to learn. She would spend days in a library, and eventually, her parents decided to allow her to attend college, Cornell University College of Agriculture, a college that provided free higher education (Tracy). Of course, this was Barbara’s idea. She was happy to go to college, no matter what college it was as long as she was able to learn more. This was not the case for Marjorie McClintock, Barbara’s oldest sister, who also had an interest in going to college and had even been offered a scholarship to Vassar College (Keller 26). Unfortunately, Marjorie’s mother influenced her decision to attend and eventually Marjorie got married and did not receive any higher education (Keller 26). This could have easily been the case with Barbara, but she was persistent in her dreams to attend college, and that is what allowed her to begin her journey as a scientist instead of being a regular woman in the 20th century