In 5 CHAPTER ONE MADAME PHYSICIST In October 1964 echoes of applause rang in Chien-Shiung Wu’s ears as she stepped down from the stage at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT auditorium The diminutive middle-aged woman wearing a cheongsam a traditional Chinese dress had just delivered an inspiring speech She spoke to a large gathering of scientists educators students and members of the media In a calm and confident manner Wu stated I wonder whether the tiny atoms and nuclei or the mathematical symbols or the DNA molecules have any preference for either masculine or feminine treatment 1 Renowned nuclear physicist Chien-Shiung Wu was a strong advocate for women in science professions
The audience at that symposium Women and the Scientific Professions was eager to hear more of what the famous physicist dubbed the Queen of Nuclear Research had to say about American women in science and engineering 2 The listeners wondered why resistance to women in science had not already been overcome by the second half of the twentieth century Wu provided the answer I sincerely doubt that any open-minded person really believes in the faulty notion that women have no intellectual What Is Physics Physics is the scientific study of how matter and energy act and interact with each other The word physics comes from the Greek word phusiké meaning knowledge of nature Physics involves the study of motion force heat sound electricity magnetism gravity light and other forms of radiation the structure and behavior of atoms and more The scope of exploration ranges from the tiniest subatomic particles to entire galaxies and beyond Chemistry biology geology astronomy and even psychology are affected by principles that find their origins in physics Wu was a groundbreaking pioneer in the field of nuclear physics All matter meaning any substance that has mass and occupies space is composed of atoms Nuclear physicists study the composition and forces at work within the nucleus at the center of an atom The nucleus comprises protons and neutrons and electrons move in wavelike fashion outside the nucleus Owing to their electrical charges protons and neutrons within the nucleus are inclined to fly apart but they are bound together by a strong nuclear force Scientists have discovered many applications for nuclear physics including medicine energy geology and weaponry 6
capacity for science and technology she asserted Nor do I believe that social and economic factors are the actual obstacles that prevent women’s participation in the scientific and technical field The main stumbling block in the way of progress is and always has been unimpeachable tradition 3 Wu’s words rang true with her distinguished Wu on Sexism Wu’s experiences as the leading female scientist among male nuclear physicists in the United States made her an outspoken voice on sexism in science It is shameful that there are so few women in science In China there are many many women in physics she told a Newsweek reporter in 1963 There is a misconception in America that women scientists are all dowdy spinsters This is the fault of men In Chinese society a woman is valued for what she is and men encourage her in her accomplishments yet she remains eternally feminine 4 audience There was no acceptable reason for women to have fewer rights than men or to earn less respect when pursuing scientific advancements OVERCOMING OBSTACLES Chien-Shiung Wu meaning courageous hero in Chinese conquered the dual biases of sexism and anti-Asian sentiment in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s with hard work determination and remarkable problem-solving skills Born in China the world-renowned American nuclear physicist fought throughout her life to overcome prejudice against women and Asians As an educator and an experimenter Wu urged her 7
