Oppression on women botanists

We have already knew known that how botany is related to femininity. In 1760, there was significant meaning for Carl von Linné’s classification on plants because it hugely promoted the development of botany in British, which encouraged women to learn botany with simple methodology. However, because the Linnaean’s classification system was based on the appellation of male and female reproductive organs in the flower, women who explore plants have to face the sensitive topic of sex. In this way, women who study botany are often considered to be licentious representatives of sexual desire, in which the stereotype impeded women’s devotion and investment on botany.

At the same time, when British women almost devoted their enthusiasm for nature and science to the field of Botany, owing to social culture at that time, botany activities not only conformed to the customs and regulations of women, but also met the expectations of society for elegant femininity. Although most women, actively participated in botany activities, they were still inherently excluded out of natural science and recognized as impure aim of studying botany. That’s because Women's exploration of nature was still strictly limited to elegant activities, and women's botany practice was excluded from beginning to end.

Even if the women are aristocrats, it is almost impossible for them to participate in scientific research. Even if their relatives with higher social status introduce them to scientists, if they are lucky, they can become the scientific research assistants of male scientists: collecting plants, drawing illustrations, sorting specimens; Usually, even if they meet male scientists, they can only feel the meaning of rejection in greetings; The worst experience is being despised by male experts because of their female identity. Women linger and wait outside the gate of science, and many people turn to professional writing and artistic creation.

However, although women's botanical activities are bound by the gender concept of "women’s ignorance is virtue", they still create a botanical knowledge system that meets their own purposes and can be used by them. For example, Anna garthwaite, a fabric designer in the mid-18th century, applied plant elements to the design, and plants with roots appeared on noble dresses.

In order to eliminate the bias for women’s employments, not only for botany, there are still a lot of work to do. Botany is just a small part to reflect how women were oppressed by society’s discrimination and stereotyping, making us to further think about what we should do in the future.

Just as gender study expert Ann Shteir said, "In a sense, my research on Flora's British daughters is also a kind of 'flora', which is a chronicle of women in botany culture during the formation of modern science and culture. Although I focus on women writers in botany culture, I will also focus on other topics through texts and biographical materials, such as women and scientific language, consumerism, reader market, religion, gardening, etc. "

female scientist who are studying plants

three female gardeners of Qiu garden