Marie Curie's Women

As women of the modern world, we understand the vital role that a support system of like-minded women plays in our lives. Historically, relationships among women have provided affection, attention, and camaraderie, especially in the face of societal oppression. This solidarity often forms the backbone of survival and success. Naturally, we were curious—who were the women who supported Marie Curie, arguably the most renowned female scientist in history? What we discovered is that her story, rich with triumph and resilience, also includes powerful moments of women standing together—a story that deserves to be told.

Marie Curie, born Maria Salomea Skłodowska, experienced significant loss during her early childhood. Her mother, Bronisława, died of tuberculosis in May 1878, when Maria was ten years old. Less than three years earlier, Maria's oldest sibling, Zofia, had died of typhus contracted from a border. However, Maria shared a deeply meaningful bond with her sister Bronya. As a teenager, she made a pact with Bronya: she would support Bronya while she was in medical school in Paris, and then then, Bronya would support Maria's education in return. So, from the age of 17, for six years, Curie worked as a governess and tutor while attempting to study in her spare time. She was unable to attend the University of Warsaw because the government prohibited women from pursuing higher education. She had an extraordinary drive to leave Warsaw for Paris, to obtain an advanced education and to believe in herself despite the strong resistance toward women in science at the time. At 24, Maria enrolled at the Sorbonne University, where she met Pierre Curie. Together, they collaborated on her doctoral research, which focused on physicist Henri Becquerel’s recent discovery of uranic rays.

Marie and Pierre Curie had two daughters, Irene and Eva, both of whom achieved remarkable success (being a successful woman was practically a family tradition by then). Irène was born in Paris in 1897. She was raised by her paternal grandfather, Eugene, a retired doctor who taught her to love nature, poetry, and radical politics. Ève had been born just 16 months before Pierre’s passing.

After the death of her husband, Marie devoted more time to her daughters. Over the years, Irène stepped into her father’s role as both a supporter and collaborator to her mother. Irène (Joliot-Curie) became a radiochemist, battlefield radiologist, activist, and politician. Together with her husband, Frédéric, she discovered the first artificially created radioactive atoms. This discovery laid the groundwork for countless medical advancements, particularly in cancer treatment, earning them the Nobel Prize. Ève pursued a career in music, literature, and diplomacy. An accomplished pianist, she later wrote the first biography of her mother, Madame Curie, which won the National Book Award in 1937. During World War II, Ève worked as a diplomat, advocating for Allied support against Hitler’s forces.

Marie Curie's life was also enriched by meaningful friendships with women, who supported her in both personal and professional spheres. One such extraordinary friendship was with British physicist and inventor Hertha Ayrton. The two women met in 1903, and their bond deepened after Pierre’s death. Ayrton was a vocal advocate for Curie, famously countering claims that her work was overshadowed by her husband with the observation: “Errors are notoriously hard to kill, but an error that ascribes to a man what was actually the work of a woman has more lives than a cat.”

When Curie faced public backlash due to her affair with Paul Langevin, Ayrton came to her aid. The scandal, which included threats to Curie and her daughters, forced them to leave their home. Amid this turmoil, Ayrton arranged a discreet trip to the British seaside to give Curie time to recover. During their stay, Curie focused on her daughters and recorded observations about their development in a personal journal. Ayrton’s steadfast support and the tranquil environment helped Curie regain her strength, allowing her to resume her scientific work later that year. Their enduring friendship lasted until Ayrton’s passing in 1923.

Top left to right: Marie Curie with her students, Marie Curie with her sister Bronya, Hertha Ayrton.
Bottom left to right: Loïe Fuller, Marie Curie with her daughters, and Marie Curie with her daughter Irene.

Another remarkable friendship in Curie’s life was with Loïe Fuller, a modern dancer and pioneer in theatrical lighting. Fuller, captivated by the scientific possibilities of radium, frequently visited the Curie laboratory. While the two women came from vastly different worlds—Curie the serious scientist and Fuller the artistic innovator—they shared a deep curiosity about each other’s disciplines. Fuller introduced Curie to the Parisian art scene, including the works of Rodin, while Curie inspired Fuller’s creative use of technology in her performances. 

In The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science (Atlantic Monthly Press, 2024), author and Scientific American poetry editor Dava Sobel explores Curie’s groundbreaking achievements and highlights the lives of numerous women who collaborated with her— more than 45 women who worked in her laboratory. As the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne, Curie became a trailblazer for women aspiring to enter the sciences. While she may not have actively sought to employ women, her openness to working alongside them was revolutionary for the time. In a period when women faced significant barriers in science, Curie’s reputation and success inspired many to follow in her footsteps, showing them that such accomplishments were within reach. She continues to serve as a beacon of hope and progress, not just for women in science but for women in all fields striving for recognition and change.

For decades, narratives of women as rivals competing for power and status dominated societal perceptions. However, this narrative is shifting as more women reclaim their histories. Today, women celebrate each other’s successes, recognizing that the triumph of one is a victory for all. Marie Curie’s life stands as a powerful testament to the transformative power of solidarity and shared victories. Her story reminds us that even the most iconic figures are shaped and strengthened by the support of those who stand with them.

Written by Janaky S, edited by Parvathy Ramachandran and Janaky S @ThinkHer

References

1. https://www.nobelprize.org/womenwhochangedscience/stories/irene-joliot-curie

2.https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Curie

3.https://www.eileenmcginnis.com/blog/2018/6/28/thank-you-for-being-a-friend-marie-curie-hertha-ayrton-the-physics-of-friendship

4.https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/when-physics-met-dance-marie-curie-and-loie-fuller-in-belle-epoque-paris/

5.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-marie-curie-helped-a-generation-of-women-break-into-science/