The most difficult career: Women's history in science

A short review of current feminist philosophy on the relationship between women and science is followed by a survey of recent work in the history of women's involvement in the sciences. The reasons for the late development of this sub‐field are explained, and the most recent work in it summarized. It is emphasized that women's history in science challenges received wisdom in both the history of science as ‘professionalization’ and current feminist philosophy, which, it is argued, proceeds from an insufficient concern with the historical diversity and complexity of women's relations with science.