Against the Grain: Women of Color in Astronomy and Astrophysics

INTRODUCTION

The field of astrophysics has been a difficult field for women to break into, and particularly women of color. Even today, there are very few women of color in this field or that of astronomy in the United States, although their numbers are gradually growing. This paper will explore the history of women in these fields, the history of women of color in these fields, the stories of the few women of color in these fields currently and in the recent past, and finally the reasons for their small representation. The body of the paper will focus on the accomplishments of four women of color in the United States in the fields of astrophysics and astronomy in particular, as a guideline for young women of color who are seeking employment, research, or an education in these fields, and also as inspiration. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF WOMEN IN ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS

The Geek Feminism Wiki provides a short list of “famous female astronomers and astrophysicists,”, including Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (who discovered pulsars), Annie Jump Cannon, Margaret Geller, Caroline Herschel, Maria Mitchell, Ruby Payne-Scott, Henrietta Swan Leavitt, and Jill Tarter (the main inspiration for the book Contact by Carl Sagan). Other (read: non-famous) female astronomers and physicists listed are Amelia Fraser-McKelvie (she discovered some missing mass in the universe), Katie Mack (theoretical astrophysicist and popular science writer), and Caroline Moore (youngest person to discover a supernova at the tender age of 14). None of the links for any of these women has been filled in on the website as of yet; presumably because articles need to be written about these women. Also, the four women researched in this paper (Beth A. Brown, France Córdova, Mae Carol Jemison, and Jedidah Isler) are not on this list.

WOMEN OF COLOR IN ASTROPHYSICS & ASTRONOMY IN THE RECENT PAST

Although these is certainly a dearth of women of color in the fields of astrophysics and astronomy, there is no doubt that more and more bright young women are gravitating toward these fields, as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) schools emerge as bright, shining, guiding lights for girls and women of color to follow into these types of careers. This does not mean that the path is easy, by any means, and it is clear that women of color and women in general still face serious and quite often crippling judgment and difficulties when obtaining their educations and employment in these fields. However, the path is becoming easier, and women like those listed below have also contributed light, knowledge, and discoveries that will help future girls and women of color to find their way into these professions.

Beth A. Brown. Beth A. Brown was an American astrophysicist who found her love of science through a class visit to an observatory; a view of the Ring Nebula through a telescope captivated her. Brown was born in Roanoke, Virginia, and loved science fiction (American Astronomical Society). Brown was determined to be an astronaut, and completed to NASA internships toward that end. She finally discovered that her near-sighted vision and claustrophobic tendencies were not a fit, but she continued to pursue a career in astrophysics (AAS). She graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C. summa cum laude with a B.S. in astrophysics (AAS). In the University of Michigan’s Department of Astronomy, she became the first African American woman to obtain a Ph.D. in that subject; the topic of her study was x-ray observations of elliptical galaxies from the Röntgen Satellite (ROSAT). Brown also completed post-doctoral work at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and was a civil servant at the National Space Data Center there – she was eventually made an Astrophysics Fellow (AAS). Brown was a visiting assistant professor at Howard University and was about to take her position as Assistant Director for Science Communications and Higher Education at GSFC at the time of her death (AAS). Brown died of a pulmonary embolism at the young age of 39, and is sorely missed by her family, colleagues, and students; she often participated in many public educational opportunities, giving planetarium shows, popular science talks, and communicating with the local and national news agencies to explain NASA findings (AAS). Brown was an active member of the Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) and an “inspiration to women and minorities in encouraging them to pursue careers in astronomy and physics” (AAS).

WOMEN OF COLOR IN ASTROPHYSICS & ASTRONOMY IN 2016

France Córdova. France Córdova is an American astrophysicist, researcher, and Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Córdova was born in Paris in 1947, and grew up with no less than 11 brothers and sisters in California (National Society of Hispanic Physicists). She is of Hispanic heritage, and demonstrates the incredible aptitude and perseverance that women of color can bring to the scientific professions. Córdova was born in Paris in 1947, and grew up with no less than 11 brothers and sisters in California. She attended Stanford University, where she majored in English, and wrote a short novel about an anthropological project in Oaxaca, Mexico (The Women of Santo Domingo). The year of the moon landing, 1969, prompted her to leave her editing position at Mademoiselle magazine and enroll at CalTech where she earned a Ph.D. in physics. Córdova worked at Las Alamos National Laboratory studying white dwarfs and pulsars after graduation and became the Professor and Chair of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University before her work for NASA.

She attended Stanford University, where she majored in English, and wrote a short novel about an anthropological project in Oaxaca, Mexico (The Women of Santo Domingo). The year of the moon landing, 1969, influenced her to leave her editing position at Mademoiselle magazine and enroll at CalTech where she earned a Ph.D. in physics. Córdova worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory studying white dwarfs and pulsars after graduation, and became the Professor and Chair of the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Pennsylvania State University before her work for NASA.

Córdova was nominated by President Obama to lead the NSF, and was sworn in on March 31, 2014 (National Science Foundation). The NSF was founded to advance scientific discovery in various fields, including technology, science, engineering, and mathematics education. The purpose of the NSF is to lead the world the realm of science and mathematics through global leadership and prosperity (NSF). Córdova’s background is formidable and considerable, with her previous positions as President Emerita of Purdue University, Chancellor and Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Riverside, and Vice Chancellor for Research and Professor of Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara (NSF). All of these positions followed her position as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Chief Scientist. Córdova’s remarkable and unparalleled resumé goes on; she has also served on the boards of the Smithsonian Institution, the Mayo Clinic, and the National Science Board (NSF). 

Córdova’s contributions to science, of course, have been considerable. Her focus has been on observational and experimental astrophysics, multi-spectral research on x-ray and gamma ray sources, and space-borne instrumentation (NSF). Córdova’s published scientific papers number at least 150, and her honors include NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal, the Kilby Laureate selection, and a fellowship of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) (NSF). Córdova’s incredible career is an example to women everywhere who seek to climb the highest rungs of the scientific life.

Mae Jemison. Mae Carol Jemison is a physician and former United States astronaut, and an inspiration for women in the sciences across the world. Jemison was born in 1956 in Decatur, Alabama, but spent most of her formative years in Chicago, Illinois (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). She is the only child of Charlie and Dorothy and graduated from Stanford University with a B.S. in chemical engineering and a B.A. in African and Afro-American Studies in 1977. Dr. Jemison received her doctorate in medicine from Cornell University in 1981. 

Jemison’s engineering and medical research backgrounds have driven her careers in computer programming, printed wiring board materials, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, computer magnetic disc production, and reproductive biology, according to NASA. Dr. Jemison completed her internship at L.A. County’s USC Medical Center, and went on to practice medicine in L.A. She was the area Peace Corps Medical Officer in Sierra Leone from 1983 to 1985, and there she developed curriculum for medical staff and taught different health topics (NASA). Jemison developed and researched projects on hepatitis B vaccines, schistosomaisis, and rabies with the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

Following her return to the states, Jemison worked for CIGNA as a General Practitioner before her selection by NASA’s astronaut program in 1987 (NASA). At NASA, she participated in launch support activities at the Kennedy Space Center, Shuttle computer software verification for SAIL (Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory), and Science Support Group activities (NASA). Dr. Jemison was the science mission specialist on STS-47 Spacelab-J from September 12 through 20, 1992 – it was a cooperative Japanese and U.S. eight-day mission consisting of 127 earth orbits and 44 life science and materials processing experiments (NASA). Jemison flew into orbit on the Endeavour and she has logged 190 hours, 30 minutes, and 23 seconds in space. Jemison was the first African-American woman to go to space, and she’s also been an accomplished dancer for her entire life (Public Broadcasting Network). Jemison is a world traveler who participated in Cambodian refugee programs and other humanitarian missions worldwide. She applied to the NASA space program by calling NASA and requesting an application; “They didn’t laugh,” she said in a PBS video. Jemison’s love of the stars and space shuttle missions has led her to the 100 Year Starship, an initiative to ensure that the human race finds the ability to travel to another star system through online forums, workshops, and conversations that cross disciplines, gender, ethnicity, and geography (PBS).

Jedidah Isler. Jedidah Isler is an American astrophysicist, TED fellow, public speaker, and advocate for inclusive STEM education (Isler). Her monthly web series is called “Vanguard: Conversations with Women of Color in STEM.” Isler obtained her B.S. from the National Institute for Mathematics and Applied Sciences at Norfolk State and went on to obtain a masters in physics from the Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-Ph.D. Bridge Program (Isler). Fellowships from NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Ford Foundation supported her at Yale as she studied supermassive, hyperactive black holes (her article was published in National Geographic). Isler was the first African American woman to receive a Yale Ph.D. in and completed a study there to the physics of particle jets coming from black holes in blazars (distant galaxies). Currently, Isler’s research is focused on the use of simultaneous infrared, optical, and gamma-ray observations to interpret blazar jet physics. Isler has ties with Syracuse University, Vanderbilt University, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and has been recognized by TED for her astrophysical research as well as her innovative method for inspiring STEM leaders from varying and underrepresented backgrounds. Isler’s writing has been published in The New York Times and she has visited the White House on Astronomy Night as well as being featured in various cutting edge publications such as Wired, Ebony, and NPR: Codeswitch. Isler donates her time to schools, museums, libraries, and other nonprofits to advance STEM leaders from middle school, high school, and college students.

THE ROLE OF STEM & STEAM IN INCORPORATING WOMEN OF COLOR INTO SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS

STEM and STEAM educational plans were started in order to educate, recruit, and retain more women and minorities in employment in the sciences, including astrophysics and astronomy. According to the Harvard Educational Review, women of color in science face barriers related to gender, race or ethnicity, and the science career they choose; “The intersection of race and gender in STEM highlights the disparity in levels of achievement of women of color when compared to white women or to men of color, especially at the most advanced levels” (Bernstein). So, the issue remains: why are so few women of color involved in STEM educations and careers, and how can they be encouraged to get involved in fields like astrophysics and astronomy, not to mention technology, engineering, and other pivotal and essential fields the United States and the world needs them in? The answer is simple: they don’t have the support, either educationally, socially, at home or at school, or at scientific companies themselves (Haynes).

SOLUTIONS FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF WOMEN OF COLOR IN SCIENTIFIC PROFESSIONS

The best way to help women of color succeed in and strive for careers in scientific professions is to provide the opportunities that lead to these professions, which means support for girls and women of color throughout the educational process, at home, and finally in the careers themselves. Many people learn best with mentors, and this is precisely what women like Jedidah Isler are seeking to do. Anyone, including women and girls of color, who see someone similar to themselves in a certain profession – even if that profession feels out of reach initially – has an easier time envisioning themselves in that profession. The role of mentors is crucial for scientific, mathematical, technological, and engineering fields, especially for women of color, who may feel outnumbered, outcast, or even persecuted by the majority of people already in these fields (Malcolm). 

Women in STEM fields who tour schools or make themselves available for questions on websites, and even mothers who encourage their daughters at home toward their natural interest in the sciences, all serve as role models for women of color in the United States and beyond. Home is where education starts, and it is also where women and girls gain their self-respect, self-esteem, and the belief that they can accomplish anything (which should not revolve around their gender, religion, cultural background, or ethnicity). The companies involved in the sciences must also be supportive of women of color, engaging them through mentorships, hiring opportunities, workshops, and fair and equal hiring and promotional processes within their policies. 

CONCLUSION

As the Harvard Educational Review noted, a career in STEM fields for women of color at the present time may not be easy to come by, but that does not mean it isn’t worth working toward, or that it is somehow unreachable. On the contrary, the women blazing a path for other women of color at the present moment took their most available route and succeeded with flying colors in many different ways. As our society learns and grows, it also learns that only through diversity in the science can we truly tap our potential as a well-rounded human race, with all the impressions, knowledge, and abilities of different people coming together to solve the world’s problems and seek out new ideas. Without the diversity of women and women of color in scientific fields, our knowledge falls far short of where it could be with their contributions and achievements.

Works Cited

American Astronomical Society. “Obituaries: Beth A. Brown.” American Astronomical Society, American Astronomical Society, 2016. Web. 25 August 2016. << https://aas.org/obituaries/beth-brown-1969-2008>>

Bernstein, Rachel. “Barriers for Women of Color in Science.” ScienceMag, publisher, year.Web. 18 August 2016. <<http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2015/02/barriers-women-color-science>>

Editors of the Harvard Educational Review. “Symposium: Unraveling the Double Bind: Women of Color in STEM.” Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2011. Web. 15 September 2016. << http://hepg.org/her-home/issues/harvard-educational-review-volume-81-number-2/herarticle/women-of-color-in-stem_814>>

Haynes, Douglas M. “Always the Exception: Women and Women of Color Scientists in Historical Perspective.” Association of American Colleges & Universities, Peer Review, 2014. Web. 18 August 2016. <<https://www.aacu.org/peerreview/2014/spring/haynes>> 

Isler, Jedidah. “About Me.” Jedidah Isler Ph.D., Jedidah Isler, Ph.D., 2016. Web. 25 August 2016. << http://www.jedidahislerphd.com/about.html >>

Isler, Jedidah. “Black Holes, Blazars, and Women of Color in Science.” The National Geographic Live Series, National Geographic Headquarters, Washington, D.C. National Geographic Society, 2016. Web. 18 August 2016. << http://www.nationalgeographic.com/>>

Malcolm, Shirley. “Seeking Solutions: Maximizing American Talent by Advancing Women of Color in Academia.” Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine Policy and Global Affairs, 7-8 June, 2012, Washington D.C.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. “Mae C. Jemison (M.D.) NASA Astronaut (FORMER).” NASA, NASA, 1993. Web. 25 August 2016. << http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/jemison-mc.html>>

National Science Foundation. “France A. Córdova.” National Science Foundation, National Science Foundation, 2016. Web. 25 August 2016. << https://www.nsf.gov/mobile/staff/staff_bio.jsp?lan=fcordova&org=NSF&from_org>>

Williams, Joan C., Katherine W. Phillips, Erika V. Hall. “Double Jeopardy? Gender Bias Against Women of Color in Science.” University of California Hastings College of Law, Work Life Law.org, 2014. Web. 18 August 2016. <http://www.uchastings.edu/news/articles/2015/01/double-jeopardy-report.pdf>>