They are sailors, explorers, researchers and scientists. Despite legends, prejudice and discrimination, many women have written their names and their work into maritime history.
From myths and superstitions to innovations and scientific research, women have inspired and played a crucial role in the maritime world. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, in many countries women were forbidden to set foot on the floor of a ship. This was either because of the law, or simply because for a long time there was a fixed idea that the presence of a woman on a ship was bad luck. In an all-male crew, female company can arouse jealousy, leading to discord. Others see the sea as a goddess, and welcoming another woman onto a ship can, in their view, provoke her jealousy. Paradoxically, many figureheads depict a woman, whose nudity would ‘calm the sea’. The ship itself is feminized, seen as a protective mother who watches over the sailors.
But all these superstitions didn’t stop many women from swapping their clothes for men’s and getting involved. From pirate to explorer, engineer to commander, they overturned preconceived ideas over the centuries. They proved time and again that they deserved their place as much as men, and could do any job: carpenter, sailor, commander. Although they still face discrimination, prejudice and sexual harassment, they continue to fight for gender equality and encourage women to work in the maritime industry. It wasn’t until 1988 that the IMO (International Maritime Organization) launched its ‘gender equality’ program.
3 portraits of women who have left their mark on maritime history
One of the many women to have put her name to the marine world is the botanist Jeanne Baret. She is considered to be the first woman to have circumnavigated the globe on board a ship, under Bougainville’s command. At the time, a decree issued by the King of France had prohibited the presence of a woman on a ship since 1689. Jeanne Baret changed into men’s clothes and, with the help of Philibert Commerson, a doctor and botanist, embarked on one of the two exploration ships, the Etoile and La Boudeuse, for a travel around the world. Jeanne Baret passed herself off as Commerson’s valet, and for more than a year, despite some doubts, deceived the crew. Her hard work and attention to detail on the ship’s maintenance tasks helped to sweep away any suspicions. With Commerson, they built up an immense herbarium, classifying and cataloging exotic species. During a passage near Rio de Janeiro, they discovered a shrub that they named bougainvillea, in homage to their captain.
Jeanne’s identity was discovered in sordid circumstances during a stopover in Tahiti in 1768. The Tahitians were said to have recognized Jeanne Baret’s true identity. She was raped during this stopover, but doubts remained as to the assailants. While some thought they were locals, notes in the ships’ logbooks suggested the possibility that they were members of the crew. Since then, Jeanne Baret has protected herself by keeping two pistols on her person. The discovery of her identity did not prevent the botanist from continuing her crossing and her research. She stayed on what is now Mauritius for a few years, eventually returning to France in late 1774 and early 1775. Commander Bougainville did everything in his power to ensure that she was recognized by the Ministry of the Navy and received the honors she deserved as a woman. As a result, in 1785 she received a royal pension from Louis XVI and was designated an ‘extraordinary woman’. As well as being the first female French explorer to circumnavigate the globe, she enabled France to discover 3,000 species of exotic plants, out of the 5,000-6,000 or so that were sent from Mauritius.
Rachel Carson’s work led to the creation of the EPA
Born in 1907, Rachel Carson quickly developed an interest in writing and the environment. In 1936, she was the second woman to join the US Bureau of Fisheries, renamed the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1940. She became editor-in-chief and published a number of books, including Under the Sea Wind in 1941 and The Sea Around Us in 1951. While the latter were a great success, one of them caused a stir in the ecological sphere. This book, Silent Spring, was published in 1962. In it, after a great deal of research and investigation, Rachel Carson denounced the damage caused by chemical products in the ocean, such as pesticides, and their impact on fauna, flora and human life. Following her numerous warnings, particularly about the risks of cancer, several companies specializing in the chemical industry took legal action against her. They used every possible means to discredit her, going so far as to call her a ‘communist’ and ‘hysterical’. Despite a weakening cancer, Rachel Carson testified before President J.F. Kennedy’s Science Advisory Committee. A report was published, and many pesticides, including DTT, were banned in the United States. Rachel Carson’s work and the impact of her battles led to the creation of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in 1970.
Marwa Elselehdar, the first captain in the Egyptian Navy
Marwa Elselehdar is the first woman to enroll at the Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, which has always been exclusively for men. She graduated in 2013 as a senior officer. The first ship to successfully cross the Suez Canal in 2015 after its extension, the Aida IV, was under the command of Marwa Elselehdar, then Chief Officer. After studying at Cardiff Metropolitan University, she was promoted to the rank of captain in 2021. But that same year, she faced fake news when she was wrongly accused of being responsible for blocking Ever Given in the Suez Canal. At the same time, she was on the Aida IV in Alexandria. The doctored photo was taken from an authentic article about the captain’s success. The origin of these attacks was perceived to be anti-feminist militancy. She denied the rumors and received many messages of support. The captain faced prejudice and discrimination during her training, but fought hard to get her place. She encourages women who want to enter the maritime industry.
Whatever the field, the research and actions of many women have advanced marine science. The work of Eugenie Clark, for example, helped to disprove many preconceived ideas about sharks, and the Australian teacher Leanne Armand was one of the first to make the link between climate change and melting ice. The studies and co-created map of geologist and cartographer Marie Tharp are contributing to the discovery of the movements of tectonic plates.
