An educational and accessible series
Narrated by Denis Podalydès, the series "Cherchez la femme" combines humor, pedagogy and historical rigor. Designed as a free educational tool, it is accessible to everyone and perfectly illustrates the Matilda Effect, a mechanism described by historian Margaret Rossiter, which designates the invisibilization of women scientists' contributions in favor of their male colleagues.
A resource to understand invisibilization
Available online until 2027, the series is aimed at a wide audience, from teachers and students to curious or engaged people. It constitutes a valuable educational resource for understanding the mechanisms of invisibilization at work in the history of science and for contributing to the rehabilitation of the memory of long-forgotten pioneers.
READ MOREFocus: Ada Lovelace, pioneer of computing
Among the striking episodes, the one dedicated to Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) illustrates the power of the series. Daughter of poet Lord Byron, Ada is presented as the first programmer in history. In 1843, she designed an algorithm for Charles Babbage's analytical engine, thus anticipating the foundations of modern computing.
Scientific sexism and future vision
Some doctors explained her intelligence by a supposed "jumping uterus," revealing the deeply entrenched scientific sexism of the 19th century. The episode also highlights Ada Lovelace's visionary intuition, who already imagined that machines could go beyond simple calculation and manipulate symbols, music or images.
