We’ve all been there . . .
You need to run to the grocery store to grab a few last-minute items for dinner. You grab your items and use a paper bag (one day you will remember your reusable bags), and on the way home it begins to rain, so you navigate home using your windshield wipers and lights.
Once home, you get started on dinner, grabbing some ingredients out of the fridge and cleaning up around the kitchen. As dinner cooks, you load some dishes from the sink into the dishwasher and sort through some junk mail before tossing it in the trash.
Pretty standard right? Oftentimes, these inventions continually solve our most basic problems and become so ingrained in our daily lives and routines, we never give them a second thought. We can’t imagine life without them, so we never really wonder who is responsible for creating them.
For example, the scenario above includes six inventions made by women, whose names you’ve probably never even heard of:
- Margaret Knight: Paper Bag Maker, 1871
- Mary Anderson: Windshield Wiper, 1903
- Florence Parpart: Electric Refrigerator, 1914
- Lillian Gilbreth: Foot pedal trashcan, Refrigerator Door Shelving
- Josephine Cochran: Dishwasher, 1872
With the new year just barely beginning, these early months usually bring change and the inkling of innovative ideas for the days ahead. February marks both National Women’s Inventor Month and the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on the 11th. The brilliance, perseverance, and drive these women inventors displayed often go unnoticed. We owe it to them to share in their triumphs and history, through appreciation and recognition of their efforts.
More Women Inventors
Our first inventor did not pass go and did not collect $200. Elizabeth Magie is responsible for the game we have all played at some point in our lives. Originally named “The Landlord’s Game,” it was designed to mock capitalism and shine a light on the tough times of living on rent. Unfortunately, Magie’s idea was stolen in 1934 and renamed “Monopoly” by Charles Darrow. However, the patent attained by Magie in 1904 proves her case as the original inventor.
Have you ever attempted to invent a new game with your family? Or maybe a twist on an existing game with some new rules?
This next inventor is a lifesaver — no really! Maria Beasley created the modified life raft with updates for fireproof guard rails to protect passengers, while also being easily foldable. She attained a patent in 1880. Beasley was a serial inventor attaining at least 15 patents for inventions throughout her career.
Have you ever used a tool or invention and thought, “How can I improve this?” Try to explore everyday items and brainstorm what you would do differently, or even create something new.
Our final inventor can agree with the saying, “That’s the way the cookie crumbles,” — well, the chocolate chip cookie to be exact. The history of this cookie started at the Toll House Inn where Ruth Graves Wakefield decided to experiment with her cookie offerings to guests. She added Nestle chocolate to her recipe in 1939. This cookie recipe is still used today and is known as the famous Toll House Cookie.
Have you ever added a new ingredient to your favorite dish, or made a new culinary creation? Try baking something new and combining new flavors!
There are hundreds of creations by women inventors throughout history, with new ones being developed every day. Highlighting these three women, in particular, showcases that ideas and inventions may come from various sources including life experiences, innovative ideas to improve existing products, or even experimental inventions that just work.
Challenge yourself to research an invention’s origins this month, and find out when it was made and by whom. You can also explore and create your own inventions with your family right at home, or find opportunities locally. Here are some ideas to help get you started!
Home Inventor Kits
- Crunch Labs – Engineering kit
- Kiwi Co – STEAM, STEM, and Science kits for kids
- Make your own inventor box
Books
- Cardboard Box Engineering: Cool, Inventive Projects for Tinkerers, Makers & Future Scientists
- Tinkerlab: A Hands-On Guide for Little Inventors