10 Things You Didn’t Know Were Invented by Women

Many everyday tools and life-saving technologies were created by women, though their names are often omitted from history.

Sophia Zapanta
May 19, 2025
4 min read

10 Things You Didn’t Know Were Invented by Women — NASA Langley Research Center / NASA on Wikimedia Commons

Women have been behind some of the most practical and important inventions in the modern world. Their contributions span across safety, medicine, technology, and home life. These 10 inventions show how women have shaped the world in ways many people don’t realize.

1. Windshield Wipers

Kritzolina on Wikimedia Commons

Mary Anderson noticed that streetcar drivers had to stop and manually wipe their windshields during rain or snow. In 1903, she patented a hand-operated device to clear windshields from inside the vehicle. Her invention was not immediately adopted but became standard as automobiles grew in popularity. Today, it is used in every car around the world.

2. Life Raft

NPL FP2011 on Wikimedia Commons

Maria Beasley designed an improved life raft in the late 1800s. Her version was collapsible for easy storage, fireproof, and had protective guard rails. The design was safer and more durable than earlier models. It was later used on ships, including the Titanic.

3. Home Security System

David Brossard on Wikimedia Commons

In 1966, Marie Van Brittan Brown created a home security system to protect her home in Queens, New York. It included a camera that could slide between doors, a monitor inside the home, and a microphone to talk to visitors. She filed a patent with her husband, and their idea influenced modern video surveillance systems. Her design is considered the foundation of home security technology today.

4. Dishwasher

Steven Pavlov on Wikimedia Commons

Josephine Cochrane built the first practical dishwasher in 1886. She wanted a machine that could wash dishes quickly without breaking them. She built a prototype in a shed behind her house and later founded a company to manufacture the product. Her design gained attention at the 1893 World’s Fair and led to the modern dishwasher.

5. Kevlar

Paul Hudson on Wikimedia Commons

In 1965, chemist Stephanie Kwolek discovered Kevlar while working at DuPont. She was trying to develop lightweight fibers for car tires and ended up with an extremely strong and heat-resistant material. Kevlar is now used in body armor, helmets, and other protective gear. It has saved thousands of lives around the world.

6. The Original Concept Behind Monopoly

Horst Frank on Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth Magie invented The Landlord’s Game in 1904 to teach people about the dangers of monopolies and show how land ownership could lead to inequality. Decades later, Charles Darrow used her concept to create Monopoly, which was sold to Parker Brothers. Her original message was largely removed from the version that became popular.

7. Circular Saw

simplicity hunter on Wikimedia Commons

Tabitha Babbitt invented the first circular saw in 1813 while living in a Shaker community. She noticed that two-man saws wasted energy and time, so she created a spinning blade powered by a water wheel. Her design made cutting wood faster and more efficient. Although she did not patent the idea, her invention influenced modern carpentry tools.

8. One-Handed Medical Syringe

Rociofraguaspuy on Wikimedia Commons

Letitia Mumford Geer patented a medical syringe in 1899 that could be operated with one hand. Before her design, syringes were bulky and required two hands. Her version improved the speed and accuracy of injections and reduced the risk of contamination during medical procedures.

9. Flat-Bottom Paper Bags

Jeffrey Beall on Wikimedia Commons

Margaret Knight invented a machine that folded and glued flat-bottom paper bags in the 1860s. These bags were stronger and more useful than the earlier envelope-style versions. A man tried to patent her invention as his own, but she successfully defended her claim in court. Her design became the standard for paper shopping bags.

10. Spread Spectrum Technology

Mister rf on Wikimedia Commons

Hedy Lamarr worked with composer George Antheil during World War II to create a radio signal system that could not be jammed. They patented a technique called frequency hopping to protect military communications. Although it was not used during the war, the idea later became essential for technologies like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Years later, the scientific community recognized her contribution.