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Myths and Biases : An Exploration of Women’s Historical Patenting Activities

Merouani, Youssouf LU orcid and Perrin, Faustine LU (2024) In Frontiers in Economic History Part F9313. p.253-276
Abstract

Merouani and Perrin explore the representation of women inventors in historical records and discuss some of the potential biases that influence our current understanding of history. By examining a comprehensive database of nineteenth-century French patents as a case study, the authors find that women patented more frequently than contemporary biographical records suggest. Further, the authors illustrate that women’s inventive endeavors spanned all industries, challenging the perception that their contributions were confined to specific sectors. Beyond enhancing our awareness of women’s patenting activities, Merouani and Perrin’s findings emphasize the need to confront systematic biases and exclusionary practices in historical... (More)

Merouani and Perrin explore the representation of women inventors in historical records and discuss some of the potential biases that influence our current understanding of history. By examining a comprehensive database of nineteenth-century French patents as a case study, the authors find that women patented more frequently than contemporary biographical records suggest. Further, the authors illustrate that women’s inventive endeavors spanned all industries, challenging the perception that their contributions were confined to specific sectors. Beyond enhancing our awareness of women’s patenting activities, Merouani and Perrin’s findings emphasize the need to confront systematic biases and exclusionary practices in historical documentation. Such efforts are necessary for fostering a more accurate understanding of women’s contributions to technological development and economic processes.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
France, Gender, Innovation, J16, N33, Nineteenth century, O30, Patent, Women
host publication
Frontiers in Economic History
series title
Frontiers in Economic History
volume
Part F9313
pages
24 pages
publisher
Springer International Publishing
external identifiers
  • scopus:105035227857
ISSN
2662-9771
2662-978X
DOI
10.1007/978-3-031-56411-6_13
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.
id
467d1c9e-832a-4d28-affd-f906cf5a02f4
date added to LUP
2026-07-02 10:11:55
date last changed
2026-07-02 10:12:47
@inbook{467d1c9e-832a-4d28-affd-f906cf5a02f4,
  abstract     = {{<p>Merouani and Perrin explore the representation of women inventors in historical records and discuss some of the potential biases that influence our current understanding of history. By examining a comprehensive database of nineteenth-century French patents as a case study, the authors find that women patented more frequently than contemporary biographical records suggest. Further, the authors illustrate that women’s inventive endeavors spanned all industries, challenging the perception that their contributions were confined to specific sectors. Beyond enhancing our awareness of women’s patenting activities, Merouani and Perrin’s findings emphasize the need to confront systematic biases and exclusionary practices in historical documentation. Such efforts are necessary for fostering a more accurate understanding of women’s contributions to technological development and economic processes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Merouani, Youssouf and Perrin, Faustine}},
  booktitle    = {{Frontiers in Economic History}},
  issn         = {{2662-9771}},
  keywords     = {{France; Gender; Innovation; J16; N33; Nineteenth century; O30; Patent; Women}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{253--276}},
  publisher    = {{Springer International Publishing}},
  series       = {{Frontiers in Economic History}},
  title        = {{Myths and Biases : An Exploration of Women’s Historical Patenting Activities}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-56411-6_13}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-031-56411-6_13}},
  volume       = {{Part F9313}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}