Page 103 - T-I JOURNAL19 4

Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 751-758, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.4.2018.751
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org

BREAKING BARRIERS:

FEMALE INVENTORS BLAZING A PATH FORWARD

Yolanda L. Comedy and Elizabeth L. Dougherty 1,2
1
1 AAAS-Lemelson Invention Ambassador Program, The American Association for the Advancement of Science,
Washington, DC, USA
2 United States Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, VA, USA

The gender gaps faced by women in our societies globally—in pay, education, and even health
outcomes—are well known. Yet, we still seek commitment and workable policies to ensure that
these gaps close. In the case of invention, a sizeable gap exists, as women patent significantly
less than men, and this disparity is explored to some extent in this article. However, our main
goal is to highlight women in the American Association for the Advancement of Science-
Lemelson Invention Ambassadors program who have broken the barriers and become important
inventors. By focusing on their achievements, we hope to inspire others around the world to
ensure that more women have the opportunities necessary to increase their participation in
solving global problems.

Key words: Women; Inventors; Innovators; Gender gap; Patent; Entrepreneurs

INTRODUCTION to ensure that more women have the opportunities
The gender gaps faced by women in our soci- necessary to increase their participation in solving
eties globally—in pay, education, and even health global problems.
outcomes—are well known. Yet, we still seek com-
mitment and workable policies to ensure that these THE STATISTICS ARE DAUNTING
gaps close. In the case of invention, a sizeable gap Successful female inventors are an integral part of
exists, as women patent significantly less than men, the fabric of invention in the U.S. and other countries.
and this disparity is explored to some extent in this Yet, both public knowledge of these women and the
article. However, our main goal is to highlight women numbers of these women compared to men is sig-
in the American Association for the Advancement of nificantly less than needed for the vibrant invention
Science (AAAS)-Lemelson Invention Ambassadors ecosystem required to solve global problems and
program who have broken the barriers and become create innovative technologies. In this article, we
important inventors. By focusing on their achieve- highlight a handful of the incredible women who have
ments, we hope to inspire others around the world overcome barriers to become important inventors,

_____________________
Accepted: March 1, 2018.
Address correspondence to Yolanda Comedy, Independent Consultant, 1273 Northport Drive, Columbus, OH 43235, USA. Tel: +1 (202) 680-4130.
E-mail: ycomedy@gmail.com

751