Embedded Files
Carrie Derick faced significant marginalization throughout her life academically, financially, and societally. Despite this, she was known for being a strong activist for her own rights and for women's rights as a whole. Some examples of marginalization Derick faced are:
She was barred from a PhD.
After her studies at McGill, Harvard, Massachusetts, the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, and the Royal College of Science in London, Carrie Derick went to the University of Bonn in Germany to get a PhD (Gillett 2025). Derick frequently studied abroad due to a lack of research opportunities available to her in Canada (Haideri 2021). However, at the time of her attendance at the University of Bonn (1901-1902), a policy was in place that prevented women from receiving a PhD (Sarazin and Birker 2018). Thus, despite completing all doctorate-level research and requirements to earn a PhD, Derick was never awarded one (Gillett 2025; Haideri 2021; Sarazin and Birker 2018).
Carrie M. Derick, ca. 1920
Image Source: Defining Moments Canada
She received lower pay than her male counterparts.
While completing her Master's in Botany at McGill University between 1890 and 1896, Derick was hired part-time as the university's first female botany demonstrator under Professor Penhallow (Haideri 2021; Sarazin and Birker 2018). However, despite being overqualified for the job, Derick had a salary of only $250, whereas male demonstrators with bachelor's degrees were making around $500 to $750 (Haideri 2021; Gillett 2025). Due to her decreased salary, Derick had to simultaneously work a second job teaching math and science at the Trafalgar Institute, where she made minimum wage (Haideri 2021). Upon graduating in 1896, Derick was promoted to a full-time demonstrator, making a $750 salary. Derick continued to work under this title for eight years, taking on new roles that extended beyond the role, including researching, assisting with classes, and publishing—all without a pay raise (Sarazin and Birker 2018).
After much debate, Carrie Derick was given an assistant professorship in 1905, receiving a salary of $1,250 (Sarazin and Birker 2018). Meanwhile, her male counterparts were receiving well over $2000 salaries at the time (Sarazin and Birker 2018; Haideri 2021). Then, upon the death of her mentor, Professor Penhallow, in 1910, Derick took his teaching position (Sarazin and Birker 2018). This came with an exciting promotion to full professorship as well as Botany department head, making her Canada's first female professor (Sarazin and Birker 2018; Gillett 2008). Unfortunately, this promotion followed salary trends of her previous roles, with Derick making $2000 anually while men in equivalent or lesser roles were receiving upwards of $3000 (Sarazin and Birker 2018; Haideri 2021).
Sketches from the article "Flowers of the Field and Forest” by Carrie Derick, published in 1900.
Image Source: McGill University
Her professor title was a "courtesy".
Carrie Derick made a significant achievement of overcoming adversity and becoming Canada's first female professor despite consistently low salaries. Despite this, Derick was informed that her "professor" title was a courtesy title. She was informed that her title "did not carry with it a seat on faculty, and it did not involve any increase in salary” (Haideri 2021). Thankfully, Derick persistently voiced her disaproval to her courtesy title, leading to the validation of her position in 1928 (Haideri 2021).
General lack of respect in the scientific community.
Overall, despite being a brilliant botanist and early geneticist, Carrie Derick was viewed as lesser in the scientific community by her male peers - highlighting the prevalent Matilda Effect at the time (Gillett 2025; Haideri 2021; Sarazin and Birker 2018). She was paid significantly less throughout her career, struggled to climb positions despite her achievements, and was given "courtesy" positions or even barred from receiving certain degrees altogether (Gillett 2025; Haideri 2021; Sarazin and Birker 2018). As such, Derick was consistently having to advocate for herself simply for equality. Her limited positions and financial compensation were consistently taking away from her research opportunities, possibly preventing her from making important scientific discoveries (Haideri 2021). Despite her hardships and lack of respect from her peers—and her lack of significant scientific discoveries because of them—Carrie Derick was still an integral figure for women's rights in academia and science, pushing through societal barriers and cementing herself as an important figure in Canada's scientific history.
Page updated
Report abuse