What If women were the first to reach the south pole?
Eight women were freed to live a life "without danger, without certainty, and without hope" (p.943).
All that week the blizzard wind pursued us like a pack of mad dogs. I cannot describe it. I wished we had not gone to the Pole. I think I wish it even now. But I was glad even then that we had left no sign there, for some man longing to be the first might come some day, and find it, and know then what a fool he had been, and break his heart (p. 951).
Recognition Unnessesary
When thinking of personal, professional, and universal successes of women. The answers are explicitly minute. More often than not accomplishments by women are overlooked, or accredited to men in the field, leaving the hard-working woman behind in the shadows of time. In "Sur" Le Guin creates a vivid narrative of a group of women who have a dream, worked to get to their dream of reaching the South Pole, and succeeded despite the hardships that came along with the trek. I.e their crew dwindling due to illness, endless blizzards, loss of goggles, and the utter emptiness surrounding the pole. The 90 ° club sacrificed fame and recognition. This is presents a slippery slope effect because it fuels the oppression of women reaching these new heights. If the women had published of their discovery, then the would've been immortalized in stories told to children. Thus, influencing more and more girls to step into the stage.
Female Martyrs
Rosalind Franklin
Forget about what the history books may tell you about the discovery of DNA's double helix structure. While Wilson and Crick published the discovery, it was the contributions of biophysicist Rosalind Franklin that worked with x-ray diffraction images of DNA samples. Unfortunately, her notes and calculations were passed on to competitors without her permission.
Forget about what the history books may tell you about the discovery of DNA's double helix structure. While Wilson and Crick published the discovery, it was the contributions of biophysicist Rosalind Franklin that worked with x-ray diffraction images of DNA samples. Unfortunately, her notes and calculations were passed on to competitors without her permission.
Margaret Keane
Mastermind of the "big eye" style of portraiture, she is pushed into the shadow of art thief by her husband who sold her art as his own.
Mastermind of the "big eye" style of portraiture, she is pushed into the shadow of art thief by her husband who sold her art as his own.
Trotula of Salerno
Occasionally accredited with being the worlds first gynecologist in mid-12th century Italy. However, since many of her medical text were authored with male names many historians argue that it is impossible that she was indeed a female.
Occasionally accredited with being the worlds first gynecologist in mid-12th century Italy. However, since many of her medical text were authored with male names many historians argue that it is impossible that she was indeed a female.
And the desire was as pure as the polar snows: to go, to see- no more, no less. I deeply respect the scientific accomplishments of Captain Scott's expedition, and have read with passionate interest the findings of physicists, meteorologist, biologist, etc.; but having no training in any science, nor any opportunity for such training, my ignorance obliged me to forego any through of adding to the body of scientific knowledge concerning Antartica; and the same is true for all the members of my expedition (p.942).