History is full of women who revolutionized the world. Despite the prevailing prejudice and devaluation, these personalities overcame the most difficult barriers and achieved a prominent position!
To celebrate International Women's Day , we bring you the stories of five incredible women who have left their mark on the field of botany and who inspire us daily at Bioma!
Janaki Ammal - The woman who wanted to be remembered for her work
An Indian botanist and cytogeneticist, Janaki Ammal believed she should be remembered for her work. At a young age, her parents encouraged and supported her to continue her education, in a country where most women did not go beyond primary school.
Determined to follow her own path, Janaki Ammal renounced her marriage (which she had planned against her will) and moved to the United States of America. She was one of the few Asian women to receive the title of Doctor . Honoris Causa from the University of Michigan!
Early in her career, she suffered caste and gender discrimination from the patriarchal and extremely conservative society of her home country, which is why she flew to London to continue her research at the Royal Horticultural Society .
She studied the chromosomes of thousands of plant species and created hybrid variations of sugarcane, something that would have a strong impact on . On a professional level, her legacy continues to be present, but she should be remembered on International Women's Day as a symbol of courage and irreverence.
Seomara da Costa Primo - The fight for education and the active role of women
Much more than a researcher, Seomara da Costa Primo was an illustrator and author! The first woman to earn a PhD in science in Portugal, she is remembered for her dedication to research in the field of Natural Sciences and for her professionalism as a secondary and university teacher.
Throughout her life, she always defended the active role of women in society and fought for education in a predominantly male universe.
Graziela Maciel Barroso - It's never too late to change your life
The Brazilian taxonomist dedicated her life to discovering, describing and interpreting different types of plants. After getting married and having children, she decided to give her studies a new chance, joining the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden at the age of 30. Recognized for her professionalism and experience, Graziela was self-taught and trained several master's and doctoral interns, even though she did not have a college degree.
At 47 years old, she graduated in biology and at 60 she defended her doctoral thesis. Graziela is proof that it is never too late to study and change your life!
Rosette Batarda Fernandes - A woman who dedicated her life to botany
The Portuguese botanist who dedicated herself to the reorganization of the Coimbra herbarium is also known for her contribution to the knowledge of African flora. Together with her husband, she organized botanical expeditions in Portugal and on the African continent.
The naturalist at the Museum, Laboratory and Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra published around 250 articles and even has two species named in her honour ( Marsilea batardae and Polypodium batardae ), the result of her professionalism and dedication.
Jeanne Baret - The woman who became a man to travel around the world
The distant 18th century was the scene of many inequalities, and gender inequality was no exception. During this period, in a peaceful French land, Jeanne Baret became a prodigy in the study of healing plants. So much so that, after the death of her parents, she joined an expedition as an assistant to the renowned naturalist and botanist Philibert Commerson , and traveled around the world! How? By disguising herself as a man!
When she returned to Paris, she brought with her more than 6,000 identified plant species, an achievement so great that King Louis XVI himself decided to reward the scholar with a life pension. Upon her return, she was forced to resign herself to the socially accepted role for a woman, and ended up falling into oblivion.
Years later, thanks to the written testimonies of her mentor Philibert Commerson, she gained the recognition she deserved as a woman who was an example of courage and determination!
These simple but great achievements were revolutionary. Just as all the “simple steps” we take today towards women’s emancipation will be historic in the future.
