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Saturday, March 15th, 2025 5:56 PM

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Suggestion: Men's Names — But Women's Work (for Women's History Month)

List: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls527078843/ Poll: TBD History, both ancient and recent, is littered with women who have seen their accomplishments either claimed by or attributed to the men around them. The occurrence has been so common in the world of science, for example, that the term “Matilda effect” was coined to describe it, named after suffragist and abolitionist Matilda Joslyn Gage, who first described the phenomenon in her 1870 essay “Woman as Inventor”. Below are films that tell the stories of some of these women. Which one do you think best depicts this injustice? If anyone knows of any other movies or TV series on this theme, please let me know. Thank you!

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4 days ago

I can't think of any films, but two names to research: 1. Mileva Maric - Einstein's first wife, a mathematician who *may* have made significant contributions to his early work. PS. some "research" goes too far in the opposite direction, citing her as the primary force behind much of his early work, which is also not likely true. 2. Rosalind Franklin - Largely uncredited collaborator of Watson and Crick.

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I had heard of Franklin, and that she was a relatively unknown collaborator, although I don't know much about her so I will certainly read up. I knew of Maric as Einstein's first wife but did not know that she may have contributed to some of his early work. That's interesting (as is the overreaching that can happen in situations like that: the pendulum can sometimes swing too far) and definitely something I'll look up. Thanks for posting both!

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3 days ago

fun stuff: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3513498/trivia/?item=tr4388503&ref_=ext_shr_lnk

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I haven't seen either Lego Movie but that is quite interesting. I'm curious to see both movies, especially because I think it's a rather rare, but wonderful, quality to be able to admit one's mistakes or address something that others find problematic. I'm interested to see how the filmmakers dealt with the criticism. I'm also interested to see if I agree with the criticism and to what extent. Thanks for sharing this. : )

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3 days ago

Eegads, I wish this wasn't so damn timely giving our current (nasty) political circumstances: Hidden Figures

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rubyfruit76, Thank you for this timely and great poll suggestion. Sadly, as Tsar pointed out, this is timely given the current state of affairs. Regarding, NYVKE's great suggestions: Einstein's Wife (2003) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0791111/ This TV movie delves into the relationship between Albert Einstein and Mileva Marić, and it explores the theories surrounding her possible collaboration on his early scientific papers, particularly concerning the theory of relativity. Mileva Maric: The Other Einstein (2001) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1417088/ This is a documentary that chronicles Mileva Marić's life, from her youth in Serbia to her scientific pursuits and her relationship with Einstein. It aims to shed light on her brilliance and the discussions about her potential contributions. Frau Einstein (2011) Frau Ajnstajn (2011) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2147289/ This film is a Serbian production that tells the story of Mileva Maric. It explores her life, her relationship with Albert Einstein, and the mysteries surrounding her involvement in his scientific work. Sadly, none of these films have a lot of ratings. Also, it's crucial to understand that the extent of Mileva Marić's contributions is a subject of ongoing scholarly debate. While these films present various perspectives, it's essential to approach them with a critical eye and consider the complexities of the historical record. I would tend to go with the most recent film, Frau Ajnstajn (2011). = = = Rosalind Franklin's crucial role in the discovery of DNA's structure has been depicted in several films and documentaries. Here are a couple of notable examples: The Race for the Double Helix (1987) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093815/ This is an episode in the BBC Horizon series. This television film dramatizes the race to discover the structure of DNA. It portrays the contributions of Rosalind Franklin, along with those of James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins. Rosalind Franklin: DNA's Dark Lady (2003) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409234/ This is a documentary that specifically focuses on Rosalind Franklin's life and work. It aims to bring her contributions to light and address the controversy surrounding the use of her data. It is important to remember that Rosalind Franklin's work was essential to the discovery of the structure of DNA, and that these films help to bring her contributions to a wider audience. I would tend to go with The Race for the Double Helix (1987) since it is more widely known.

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rubyfruit76, For your consideration: Mrs. America (2020) TV Mini Series https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9244556/ Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly leads an unexpected fight against the Equal Rights Amendment movement during the 1970s. However, this series also shows how women's political contributions were often minimized or disregarded. It shows the struggles of many women to get their voices heard in a male dominated political arena. The Imitation Game (2014) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/ Although the movie primarily focuses on Alan Turing, it also lightly touches on the contributions of Joan Clarke. While she is shown as a vital part of the team, historical accounts suggest that her contributions were downplayed for many years. Radioactive (2019) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6017756/ This film shows Marie Curie's groundbreaking work, but it also depicts the challenges she faced as a woman in science, including the initial attribution of the Nobel Prize to her husband, Pierre Curie. Agatha (1979) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078736/ While this is a fictionalized account of Agatha Christie's disappearance, it does demonstrate the feeling of being over looked, and under appreciated, that many female writers of the time felt.

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23 hours ago

FYC: The Beanie Bubble: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17007120/reference/ Article here: https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/how-one-man-took-credit-for-women-s-work-in-new-film-about-beanie-babies-toy-mania Also: Funny Farm: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095188/reference/ Stealing Paradise: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1815943/reference/

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22 hours ago

To some extent, Jean Purdy, development of IVF treatment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Purdy#Recognition Joy https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10243672/