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S. Howard (NSF)
Women have been active scientists and technicians for as long as humans have recorded names. There have even been times and places where scholarly women were accepted and respected - places like early Sumer in the Middle East and times like the European Dark Ages and early Middle Ages. For the past 1000 years women have been equal before the university doors in Italy. By comparison, the late twentieth century in the United States presents a difficult challenge to its technical women. These women rarely achieve the same respect and power that the technical men do, perhaps because the women are now numerous enough to threaten the economic power base of the American man of science. A look at the contributions of some technical women of the past may help the people of the present appreciate the gifts today's women have for the future.