Scientists women in literature

By Charlotte Mettetal, published le 10/20/2025 at 9:16 a.m

How are women in science portrayed in books ?

In literature, women scientists have long been overlooked or stereotyped. They were invisible or limit in secondary roles like wife, lover,... They were represented such as "lonely heroine" or "anomalies" confronted with a male-dominated science.

"They were invisible or limit in secondary roles like wife, lover,..."

But, since the end of XXth century and the XXIth century, portraits of competent female researchers have multiplied in order to highlight the social constraints weighing on women scientists.

"Highlight the social constraints weighing on women scientists"

A well-known woman in literature

The woman scientist most represented in th literature is Marie Curie. Polish physicist and chemist, Marie Curie was rewarded to two Nobel Price. In 1903, she was awarded the Nobel Price of physic with her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel.
In 1911, she received the Nobel Price of chemistry, alone, for her researches on polonium and radium.

Marie Curie

Marie Curie is represented in a lot of books like : "Une femme honorable Marie Curie, une vie" by Françoise Giroud, "Marie Curie" by Janine Trotereau, etc.