I Have a Sister: A Historical Analysis of the Gendered Division of Labor Amongst Scientific Siblings

History in an academic setting is a story mostly told through the written word. But what happens when the story you are trying to tell has you reading in between the lines? In the history of science, women's contributions were often hidden by a gendered division of labor keeping them from receiving the credit they deserved. The lack of credit left their roles forgotten, which becomes a challenge when understanding the true extent of women's hidden roles in science. This thesis aims to explore how the gendered division of labor came about in the European history of science which prevented women from receiving recognition for their work. Following a discussion on the history of the division of labor and women in early modern science, as well as the Matthew Effect and Matilda Effect, two case studies are presented on Sophie and Tycho Brahe and Caroline and William Herschel to defend the argument. Additionally, this project was exhibited in the form of a screendance titled I Have a Sister, created with the intention of offering a performative public history example of this analysis to a broader audience.