Sexism is often used to frame the discovery of the structure of DNA in the early 1950s. The story is one in which the contribution of a female scientist is overlooked while her male colleagues reap all the rewards. This is not an uncommon trope in the history of science, a phenomenon labeled as the Matilda effect by science historian Margaret W. Rossiter.

Under closer scrutiny, however, the DNA story reveals a more nuanced narrative about the disparities in giving credit where it is due. These disparities still persist in our contemporary scientific landscape, and the biases behind them are hindering scientific and technological advancement.