Physicists and historians are calling for greater recognition of the pivotal roles women played in shaping quantum mechanics, a field often dominated by male figures. Many women scientists faced significant obstacles, including gender bias, limited opportunities, and societal pressures to prioritize family over career.

The book "Women in the History of Quantum Physics: Beyond Knabenphysik," edited by Patrick Charbonneau et al. and due to be published by Cambridge University Press in 2025, aims to shed light on the often-overlooked contributions of these women. The book details how many female scientists experienced a lack of recognition compared to their male counterparts, often finding their ideas dismissed until echoed by a man. They also faced gendered divisions of labor, pay gaps, and various forms of prejudice.

Chien-Shiung Wu, for example, was the first to experimentally confirm quantum entanglement. Despite this groundbreaking achievement, she, like many other women in science, navigated a landscape fraught with challenges.

Williamina Fleming, a Scottish astronomer, provides another example of a woman who overcame adversity to succeed in science. After being abandoned by her husband in the United States, she found work as a housekeeper for Edward Pickering, the director of Harvard College Observatory. Her intelligence and aptitude for astronomy were soon recognized, and she was hired to analyze astronomical data, eventually making significant discoveries.

These stories highlight the systemic issues that have historically affected women in science globally. Many felt pressured to choose between their careers and family life, a dilemma that continues to resonate with women in STEM fields today. The push for recognition seeks to correct historical oversights and inspire future generations of women in science by showcasing the significant impact women have had, and continue to have, on the field of quantum mechanics.