Forgotten Life of Mileva Marić- A Genius in the Shadows?

On December 19, 1875, Mileva Maric was born in Serbia. In her childhood, she stood out above all of her peers for her thirst for knowledge, her ability to observe, and her natural curiosity. Mileva’s father believed that she had exceptional intelligence, so he gave her the opportunity to have an education far above other women at that time, and soon everyone realized her peak interest in mathematics and calculation topics. Her father even obtained an authorization letter from the Minister of Education, so Mileva could attend some of the mathematics and physics lectures that were specifically only reserved for men. 

Shortly after Maric was accepted at the Zurich Polytechnic School and moved to Switzerland to start her career in mathematics and physics, at one of the few universities where women were accepted. She met Albert Einstein in one of her classes as he was her classmate. Despite being the only girl in the program, Mileva never doubted her abilities as she spoke with a lot of confidence and firmness. Albert found Mileva intriguing, and soon the two started talking. 

From having conversations about their shared interest in physics and mathematics, their connection grew deeper and the conversations became more emotional and deep. Soon in 1903, Mileva and Einstein got married with the disapproval of Einstein's parents as they thought she was not a good match for him. 

In the earlier years of their marriage, Mileva and Albert both worked on some of the most important scientific theories and ideas. Many scientists believe that Mileva played a very important role in developing some of the groundbreaking theories that made Einstein one of the most successful scientists in the world. Letters that were exchanged between the couple show that they did discuss theoretical physics regularly and that she gave him some exceptional ideas. 

Later, when Mileva gave birth to two sons, the balance of Albert and Mileva's partnership shifted significantly. Mileva was faced with societal pressures to take care of their son and take a break from her career. The household chores and responsibilities left her no time to think about her academic work. While she was struggling to raise her and Einstein’s children, Albert published his paper on the theory of relativity, which completely changed modern physics and had a big impact on everyone at that time.

Many historians believe that she was responsible for some of the mathematical work done in Einstein's theory of relativity. Despite her contribution, she was never officially recognized and was kept in the shadows while Einstein got the fame. 

Mileva struggled more as the couple got a divorce in 1919. She lived a modest life, focused on taking care of her children and supporting one of her sons Eduard, who struggled with mental illness. Mileva Maric's story shows us the struggles women in science have been facing for a long time. Though she may not have gotten the recognition she deserved, her intelligence, resilience, and the contributions made by her in science will always remain a very important part of history. She is an inspiration for women in STEM, reminding us of the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of those who have often been overlooked.