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Why We Exist

The consequences of this erasure extend beyond the immediate. By wrongly attributing women’s contributions to men, history has reframed what artistic genius is— one in which men appear to be the sole visionaries while women are cast as their inspiration or silent supporters. This leads to the women being written out of the story of history, a story they exist and belong in. Deprivation of perspective inevitably leads to marginalization of women’s voices, and the cycle continues. 

 

More so than basic arguments of plagiarism being right and wrong, this phenomenon’s impact seeps across multiple disciplines. With the existing prevalence of gender stereotypes, any action that reinforces these incorrect ideals creates an aftermath extending far beyond its origins. When women’s contributions are hidden, their absence is mistaken for a lack of participation and a lack of ability. Because this lines up with the idea that women are not naturally suited for innovation and authority, this stereotype is perpetuated and bleeds into disciplines beyond the arts. While In The Margins, focuses on this facet, it represents only one industry in a much broader issue. Women in the sciences, visual arts, mathematics, and everywhere else face these same issues. From misattribution of invention to being overlooked in favor of male counterparts, women are silenced in every field. This is not a historical oversight; it is the invisible hand shaping the cultural landscape.  

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By recontextualizing these stories, In The Margins challenges the myth of the male genius— a myth that has long shaped our cultural narratives. Recognizing the full scope of literary and artistic contributions that have been systematically overlooked is not merely an act of historical correction; it is a necessary step toward redefining how we value creativity, innovation, and intellectual labor.  

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By actively challenging these narratives, we help pave the way for future generations of women to be recognized as artists, writers, and thinkers in their own right, ensuring that their contributions are no longer footnotes in history, but central to the story of human creativity.  

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Rosalind Franklin, the true discoverer of the double helix

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Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician whose calculations sent crews into space

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Nettie Stevens, the true scientist behind understanding chromosones determine gender

NASA. (1983). Katherine Johnson at NASA Langley Research Center [Photograph]. Unknown photographer. (n.d.). Nettie Maria Stevens [Photograph]. Unknown photographer. (n.d.). Rosalind Franklin [Photograph].

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