Twee vrouwelijke natuurkundigen en hun promotor in het Interbellum: Lili Bleeker, Truus Eymers en Leonard Ornstein

Abstract

Two women physicists and their professor during the interbellum: Lili Bleeker, Truus Eymers and Leonard Ornstein This paper is focused on professor of physics Leonard Salomon Ornstein (1880-1941) and two of his female PhD students Caroline Emilie Bleeker (1897-1985) and Johanna Geertruida Eymers (1903-1988). A number of questions are discussed: What was the atmosphere like at the Utrecht University's faculty of physics and in Ornstein's laboratory? What was Ornstein's attitude towards these two women? Did he encourage them or did he hinder them because they were women? What was his role in their careers? How did these women deal with their situation of being exceptions in a male dominated community? Lili Bleeker went her own way by establishing a factory producing physical instruments. Truus Eymers stayed for a long time in Ornstein's laboratory, where she experienced a stimulating atmosphere to which she herself contributed a great deal, but as soon as she got married, she was discharged. Our conclusion is that notwithstanding the different personalities and attitudes of both women, Ornstein influenced them positively and helped them both in their careers as much as he could. However, due to other factors, the extent of his influence turned out to be restricted. In the end both women were on their own finding work in conformity with their capacities.