Historical Context & Representation - The report highlights the under-recognition of female inventors, noting a 2019 UK poll where only 49% of British adults could name a female inventor [4] - From 1790 to 1930, less than 5% of US patents listed a female inventor, often due to societal barriers [5] - The narrative emphasizes that the absence of representation in science and innovation reinforces outdated beliefs and hinders societal progress [23] - The report cites examples of online comments reflecting gender bias and the undervaluation of women's contributions [24] - A review of UK science curricula revealed male scientists were mentioned 40 times more than female scientists, highlighting educational disparities [25] Specific Inventors & Inventions - Mary Anderson invented windshield wipers, a safety feature now taken for granted [1][2] - Margaret Knight designed a machine to create flat-bottomed paper bags, a design still used today, and successfully defended her invention in court [6][7] - Gladys West's calculations laid the foundation for accurate GPS technology [13][14] - Mariam al-Astrulabi perfected the astrolabe, advancing astronomy and navigation during the Islamic Golden Age [15][16] - Alice H Parker patented a design for one of the first central heating systems powered by natural gas [18] - Patricia Bath invented laser technology for cataract removal [20] - Stephanie Kwolek invented Kevlar, used in bulletproof vests [20] - Hedy Lamarr's frequency hopping technology enabled modern wireless communication [22]