Let’s all think about a situation, where you have put a lot of effort into something that you were not recognised for.

Sounds pretty disheartening doesn’t it?

Now, imagine creating something that’s valued by millions - a family’s favourite game or a groundbreaking scientific discovery that changed the world - just to be overlooked and dismissed.

That’s the story of the two incredible women: Lisa Meitner and Elizabeth Magie who have made a breakthrough in history, yet both of them were overshadowed by men who took credit for their accomplishments.

Let’s start with Lisa Meitner

As the first female professor of physics in Germany, Lisa spent her lifetime educating other women, who were not allowed access to education back in the time.

She was a brilliant physicist who played a crucial role in one of the biggest scientific discoveries of the 20th century—nuclear fission.

Meitner worked closely with her colleague Otto Hahn on a groundbreaking research, and together, they uncovered that a uranium nucleus could split into two. As described by Drake (2022), this led to revolutionary findings of radioactivity, which led to developments in medicine that are still used today.

Despite her critical role, Otto Hahn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1944 for the discovery of nuclear fission, with no recognition given to Meitner, making her into a forgotten aspect on a key discovery rather than a shared success. It’s not just unfair—it’s infuriating.

Next up, Lizzie Magie

Now, let’s move onto the well known game that has possibly caused some families to fall out - Monopoly.

You probably didn’t know that it was actually created by a woman, did you?

Lizzie Magie has originally created the game as a teaching tool and statement against monopolists of her time to show the danger of wealth being held in the hands of the leaders. The game was later modified by Charles Darrow, who learned about it from friends, adapted it, and sold it, eventually becoming a millionaire.

Ironically, the game that was meant to be a critique of a monopolist system, ended up erasing Lizzie from her recognition, leaving her invention was left with barely a mention of her name.

Those are just two examples of how women’s contributions have been overlooked and under-appreciated throughout history. Here's some more...

Let it be a reminder that women have been shaping the world all along, whether recognized or not.

So, next time you sit down for a game of Monopoly or use some of your daily stuff, just remember:

There’s probably an amazing woman behind it.

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