The Woman Scientific

Fairy tales   Have you come across a book called “Good night stories for rebel girls" ? It started as a crowd-funded initiative of two Italian writers , Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavalli ,  and it is now an acclaimed success of public and critics. I bought a copy for my children (the 12-year old daughter that you have already met and my 10-year old son, yes a book on rebel girls is highly recommended for young boys). The book is an anthology of biographies of amazing women narrated in the style of a fairy tale. “Once upon a time there was a girl named Ada who loved machines.” is the beginning of the tale of mathematician and computer scientist Ada Lovelace. And so on through the lives of well-known and less known remarkable women. I loved the book from day one. At the beginning of my journey into motherhood, I used to read the traditional fairy tales to my children but I would always alter the endings. For example, this was Cinderella’s alternative ending

Poster for Women's Day in 1914. Source: Wikipedia. Back to the beginnings On Friday March 8, (some) people around the world will celebrate International Women's Day. This day was originally suggested in 1910 at the International Socialist Woman's Conference as a gathering to be held annually. The picture shows a poster for Frauen Tag in 1914 which demands women's right to vote. The t ranslation from German reads: "Give Us Women's Suffrage. Women's Day, March 8, 1914. Until now, prejudice and reactionary attitudes have denied full civic rights to women, who as, mothers, and citizens wholly fulfil their duty, who must pay their taxes to the state as well as the municipality. Fighting for this natural human right must be the firm, unwavering intention of every woman, every female worker. In this, no pause for rest, no respite is allowed. Come all, you women and girls, to the 9th public women's assembly on Sunday, March 8, 1914, at 3 pm."