Be A Marie

Marie Curie was the first woman in France to receive a PhD in Physics and the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize. She received the award for her work in Physics in 1903, an honor she shared with her husband and another colleague, Pierre Becquerel. She’s also the only person––male or female––to receive two Nobel Prizes in separate disciplines, with the second honor achieved in Chemistry, on her own, in 1911.

Her accomplishments are an inspiration for women who work in STEM, but the way she got there likely resonates with all of us. Marie was often described as “quiet, dignified, unassuming,” which sound to us like euphemisms for those likely to be underestimated. But what she really demonstrated was an uncommon intelligence, intensity, and will. She pushed herself hard to be the smartest and hardest worker in the room. She was someone who wanted to win on merit. Because good gets noticed, right? Not always.

Despite being the best and brightest, her contributions in the discovery of radioactivity that ultimately led to the first Nobel prize were still downplayed. Her skeptics among the French Academy of Sciences tried to exclude her from the award and give it to her two male research partners: her husband and Becquerel. Rightfully, her husband advocated for her and her role in their discoveries. Ultimately, the three shared the prize. A supportive partner, whether you work in the same field or not, continues to be a key attribute for many successful women today. 

Marie was also a working mom. She and her husband, Pierre, had two daughters together. Long before the days of daycare, society norms at the time would have her leave work to raise her children. Instead, her father-in-law stepped in to help raise the girls. She was heavily judged by those around her for not spending more time raising her children. Despite all of her professional achievements, the press tried to alter her story, emphasizing her role as mother, wife, and humanitarian, downplaying her role in science. Those were the roles that women were expected to play. More than 100 years later, these expectations are not entirely extinguished.

Thankfully, Marie overcame obstacles in her career and still found time to pave the way for others to follow her lead. She was a teacher, tutor, and mentor for girls in science, including her daughters. One of them followed in her mom’s footsteps, became a scientist, and also won a Nobel prize. Marie knew that our success as pioneers shouldn’t be defined by the destinations we reach, but by our ability to pave new paths for others on their way to bigger and better places.

 

SHOP MARIE