Women’s Herstory Month: Five Items You Use Everyday That You Didn't Know Were Invented By Women
This month, March 2021, marks the thirty fourth annual Women’s History Month allowing for a time of reflection and learning the ins and outs of female brilliance throughout the years by the women that came before us. One of the most personal ways we can go about expanding our knowledge on this topic is to look around us and research the items we use on a day to day basis and how some of them were created by women just like us! Here are five of these inventions that changed the way we go about life that were thought up by a mother, a sister, a wife or a friend.
The dishwasher: Josephine Cochran
SOURCE: Lemelson MIT
In 1872 a well known socialite by the name of Josephine Cochran got so sick of doing the dishes after her frequent dinner parties that she invented the modern day dishwasher to solve this looming problem. Cochran went on to say “if nobody else is going to invent a [mechanical] dishwashing machine, I’ll do it myself.” With no technical background, she went on to create, invent and patent this dishwasher becoming the start of an American household staple that we still use to this day.
2. Car Heater: Margaret Wilcox
SOURCE: Sofia Technologies
In 1893 a chemical engineer from Chicago, Illinois by the name of Margaret Wilcox went on to invent the first car heater known to the automobile industry. Not only was it utilized as a temperature regulator in relation to human comfort and commodity, the invention also allowed for interior material upkeep as well as the ability to drive in extreme temperatures like in her hometown.
3. Coffee Filters: Melitta Bentz
SOURCE: New York Times
In 1908 a Dresden, Germany native by the name of Melitta Bentz was finally granted a patent for her soon to be worldstopping invention of the coffee filter. After years of trial and error and years of annoyance by the coffee grounds at the bottom of her cup, Bentz went on to finally create the “perfect coffee enjoyment.” The invention and Bentz’s new found company soon outgrew Germany and traveled the world, improving the mornings of so many communities all over the globe.
4. Electric Refrigerator: Florence Parpart
SOURCE: World Sweeper
Although not much is known about Parpart other than her successful patents and her inclusion in United States census records, she went on to secure the second patent for the modern day electric refrigerator in the year of 1914. This invention, although only available to those individuals with enough bulk access to electricity, went on to finally replace the icebox and be a must in kitchens all over the world.
5. Disposable Diapers: Marion Donovan
SOURCE: Famous Women Inventors (www.women-inventors.com)
Last but certainly not least we have the invention of the disposable diaper. The year was 1950 and women just like Marion Donavan were fed up with the inefficiency of leaky, cloth diapers. So Donavan made it her mission to change this going on to first invent a leak proof diaper covering, then a completely disposable diaper like the ones used to this day. Although her efforts were not immediately met with positivity, we have Donavan to thank for this life changing invention we all wore at one point.
Learn more here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/03/16/inventions-you-have-women-inventors-thank-these-50-things/39158677/