Similar to other discoveries, evidence shows that discovery of the DNA structure was marred by controversies. Part of this controversy involved Rosalind Elsie Franklin, an X-ray crystallographer who was working on DNA with Maurice Wilkins at King’s College in London, England, between 1950 and 1953 (Sayre, 1975). She then moved to Birbeck College in London, where she worked on tobacco mosaic and poliovirus until her tragic death from cancer in 1958 at the age of thirty-seven. Following the discovery of the DNA, Maurice Wilkins, Francis Crick and James Watson were awarded at the Nobel Prize awards of 1962 leaving out Franklin. Despite the fact that Nobel Prizes cannot be awarded posthumously, a number of historians and writers believe that Franklin’s
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Cases of sexism and discrimination based on gender were rampant in all areas of engagements. For example, there were few or no women leaders in respective faculties, abuses, marginalization and women’s contributions to discoveries were largely ignored. Therefore, it will be incorrect that the situation would be different with regard to Franklin. In fact, Sayre (1975) notes that in 1951 King's College was a center of higher learning not distinguished because of the welcome that it provided women. The scholar continues to say that Rosalind was “unused to purdah” referring to a religious as well as social place that secludes women. Sayre (1975) writes that, "that whereas the male employees at King's dined in a large and comfortable room, their female counterparts of every rank went for lunch break within the students’ hall and occasionally away from the premises. There are claims that Ellis Franklin, father to Rosalind Franklin, strongly objected her entry into Newnham College because he also doubted the role of women in academics. Franklin’s colleagues such as James Watson, as men, they tended to adopt a patronizing attitude towards her. Sayre (1975) also admits that the letter Franklin wrote to her family in 1939 revealed that she was also aware of the sexist environment she worked in. According to Sayre (1975), the contributions of Franklin to the structure of the DNA have been intentionally ignored for the simple reason she was a woman. Maddox on the other hand denies this sexism asserted by Sayre (1975) terming it feminist. According to him, every employee, female and male alike ate in the same place in the dining room. He even ate with them from time to
Cases of sexism and discrimination based on gender were rampant in all areas of engagements. For example, there were few or no women leaders in respective faculties, abuses, marginalization and women’s contributions to discoveries were largely ignored. Therefore, it will be incorrect that the situation would be different with regard to Franklin. In fact, Sayre (1975) notes that in 1951 King's College was a center of higher learning not distinguished because of the welcome that it provided women. The scholar continues to say that Rosalind was “unused to purdah” referring to a religious as well as social place that secludes women. Sayre (1975) writes that, "that whereas the male employees at King's dined in a large and comfortable room, their female counterparts of every rank went for lunch break within the students’ hall and occasionally away from the premises. There are claims that Ellis Franklin, father to Rosalind Franklin, strongly objected her entry into Newnham College because he also doubted the role of women in academics. Franklin’s colleagues such as James Watson, as men, they tended to adopt a patronizing attitude towards her. Sayre (1975) also admits that the letter Franklin wrote to her family in 1939 revealed that she was also aware of the sexist environment she worked in. According to Sayre (1975), the contributions of Franklin to the structure of the DNA have been intentionally ignored for the simple reason she was a woman. Maddox on the other hand denies this sexism asserted by Sayre (1975) terming it feminist. According to him, every employee, female and male alike ate in the same place in the dining room. He even ate with them from time to