Enlightened Women

This past week, we celebrated the 303rd birthday of an amazing enlightened woman. No, I’m not talking about myself, although sometimes I feel like this woman has taken up residence in my own head.

Her name? Gabrielle-Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, Marquise du Châtelet, more commonly known as Émilie du Châtelet, born December 17, 1706.

She was not the first, nor has she been the last woman to juggle a husband, children, several lovers outside her marriage, and still manage to be a renowned academician. Any woman who can be sexual and a scientist at the same time has my vote. Brains and promiscuity are not mutually exclusive. The most famous of her lovers was Voltaire, and it was with him that she achieved so much in the scientific world.

No wonder men fell at Émilie’s feet – a seductive smarty-pants with her bosoms pushed up above a low neckline and her billowing skirt hiding other treasures. It’s fun to fantasize about enlightened women like Émilie. I can just imagine men fumbling around and getting lost in her massive skirts as they seek enlightenment with her. I don’t think of her as coy, but rather as a strong woman with needs that could only be met by strong men. She would have intimidated lesser men.

She was lovely beyond words, and still was considered one of the primary scientific minds of the day. She was one of three scientists credited by Einstein as being influential in his work. Émilie was not allowed the elevated status of male scientists, however.

Is it so different today? Have we really gotten much beyond 18th century mentality? Is it time for a new Age of Enlightenment? There are small pockets of folks who believe we should take away the women’s right to vote! Look it up on Google if you don’t believe me!

As an instructor in higher education, I watch as young women are guided into careers that are considered to be more fulfilling for women – nurses, teachers, secretaries. And the young men get much the same treatment. We still wonder what’s wrong with a young man wanting to go into nursing or a young woman who wants to be a mechanic.

And it goes beyond that. A woman who flirts and flaunts is considered to be a bimbo, someone without brains. A woman who dresses sedately and wears glasses is thought to be the scholar. I love the fact that Émilie could be someone’s mistress, enjoy an active sexual life, and still be brainy.

Reading about her was exciting! By the time she was twelve years old, she spoke six languages. In her twenties, she became immensely interested in Newton’s ideas, and with her most well-known lover, Voltaire, she helped to spread Newton’s work. She translated Newton’s Principia into French from the original Latin in order to help spread his ideas.

I celebrate her birth, her courage, and her inspiration to the rest of us. May we all allow ourselves be as enlightened as Émilie du Châtelet.

I blow you a kiss ~ ~ ~ ~

Fanny