Prior to the 21st century, women faced many obstacles in their pursuit of equality. They were seen as the “weaker sex” and were not as educated or capable as men. Even when some women tried to prove these statements wrong and demonstrated that they were just as capable as men and could assert any type of opinion, they were ostracized and rejected. They were seen as unladylike and were not respected. During this period, women were not given the opportunity to prove that they were equal to men. Any opinions raised were quickly dismissed. Many women writers and thinkers were not taken seriously in that period (many had to create pseudonyms to hide their gender when they wanted not only to be published but to be taken seriously), and even the very "influential" women of the salons had very little or no credibility in the male-dominated political and social sector. They were seen as inferior to men, especially when it came to education and the ability to spread their ideas to the public. The education women received was very different from that received by men. Furthermore, most women of this time were not encouraged to pursue higher education. It is very interesting how women were said to be ignorant when they were not even given the opportunity to educate themselves. One woman, however, challenged many of these social "norms" and expectations of women. It was Emilie du Chatelet. Emilie du Chatelet was one of the most educated women of her time. She was the exception to the rule. Of course there were many factors that allowed Emilie du Chatelet to become the educated mathematician and scientist that she was. She has been given many opportunities to express herself, for example: (1) her early life/education, (2) salons/Dressi...... middle of paper ...... respects many rules and challenges many of the social norms that women of the time were expected to uphold, such as (1) not only being an educated woman but also a highly intellectual woman, (2) they were able to date. She challenged the social norms of women of her time.II. Emilie du Chatelet did things that most women of her time could not do. She was not yet respected like men were, but she is remembered in history.http://womeninscience.history.msu.edu/Object/C-46-1/institutions-de-physique-1740--/. Women in Science (Institutions de Physique) Women and the Paris Academy of Sciences. Vesna Petrovich. http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/30053914?uid=3739832&uid=2134&uid=2477106767&uid=2&uid=70&uid=3&uid=2477106757&uid=3739256&uid=60&sid=2110307877 5477 http://www.math.wichita.edu/ history /women/chatelet.html Women and the Paris Academy of Sciences. Vesna Petrovich.