Four women won the Nobel Prize in 2020 for literature, chemistry and physics. Fifty seven women got the Nobel Prize since its establishment in 1895. Though 2020 awards shed some light on the progress for women’s inclusion, yet there’s still a long way to go to achieve gender equality.
Marie Curie was the first woman to get the Nobel in 1903 (Physics). Bertha von Suttner was awarded the next in 1905 who got the Peace Prize. Marie Curie, has been honoured twice, with the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics and the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
When seventeen women won the Nobel Peace Prize (107 individuals and 28 organizations in total), sixteen won the Nobel Prize in Literature (117 laureates in total). Twelve women won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (222 laureates in total), seven won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (186 laureates in total), four won the Nobel Prize in Physics (216 laureates in total) and two won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences (84 laureates in total).
The most Nobel Prizes awarded to women in a single year was in 2009, when five women became laureates in four categories.
Though there has been progress in the recent years to bring down gender inequality, the United Nations Women thinks that more has to be done. In a tweet with respect to the Nobel Prize, the Un Women said “4 women won the Nobel [prize this year, in literature, chemistry & physics. There’s been progress for women’s inclusion, yet there’s still a long way to go to achieve gender equality. Since its establishment in 1895, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to less than 60 women.”
