The role of women in the history of geological studies in Ireland

Abstract

During current research being carried out into the role of women in the history of geological study in Ireland, interesting social and cultural factors are emerging. A list of people who contributed to data gathering, and the unravelling of the complexity of Ireland's geology would characteristically contain only male names. Yet when one begins to look more closely, important roles were played by women. The story is one of women carrying out many and varied supporting roles, including stone-workers, illustrators, tutors, assistants, collaborators, wives, mothers, and later, curators, cartographers and technicians. From 1950 onwards, women begin to occupy professional roles as geologists, particularly in the Geological Survey of Ireland, but more slowly in academic circles. This paper concentrates on women now deceased, who paved the way for others, and only briefly indicates their legacy with selected examples leading to the present day.

The role of women in the history and development of geology: an introduction

“…The lessons of the past presented in this book (Burek 2007;Higgs & Wyse Jackson 2007;Kölbl-Ebert 2007) show that most male geologists do not do U-turns and change their minds about the role of women in geology. The geological debate on gender focused on women as 'the problem', when it could have been focusing on teaching and societal attitudes as the problem.…”

“…Certainly geological mapping was considered unsuitable for women. So it must have come as a surprise to some when the first female field geologist, Audrey Jackson (Higgs & Wyse Jackson 2007), was appointed by the British Geological Survey in 1969. Interestingly, even into the 1970s, women postgraduate researchers had to use covert measures to gain access to coal mines for their sampling.…”

“…Archives show that women typically worked for 2 or 3 years before disappearing from the records (Burek 2007;Higgs & Wyse Jackson 2007). The young male geologists of 30 years ago are now in senior positions of power, sitting on committees and selection panels.…”

“…Whatever the answers, industry and some geological surveys have been ahead of the game, employing more women than the academic institutions. There are still some university geology departments that are into their third century of existence and have yet to appoint a female to a full-time permanent academic post (Higgs & Wyse Jackson 2007).…”

The contribution of women to Welsh geological research and education up to 1920

“…The lost or forgotten women of Ireland associated with geology and museum curatorship, for example, have been described by Higgs and Wyse-Jackson (2007). The contribution of women to saurian research has been extensively studied by Turner et al (2010).…”