Women Inventors & STEM: I'm an inventor! Says my 6-year-old.
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Time to Read: 8 min
Joining the World of Women Inventors
When I started Ahimsa I knew what I wanted to do, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Every once in a while, things start to pile up and I just feel like I’m failing at everything. Figuring out a lot of the little (and big) things, learning by trial and error and realizing how much of myself it was going to take to launch a company was challenging.
About Ahimsa
Founded by a pediatrician and mom of three
Stainless steel is the only kid-friendly material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics
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There was one particular week that I was exhausted, had hit some roadblocks and had not spent nearly enough time with my kids. It was a week of failure and mom guilt. Then, my six-year-old daughter looked up at me with the prototype of our nesting spoon in her hand and said, “Mom, did you make this? So, does this mean you’re an inventor?!”
I had to stop, pause and think about an answer. Then I opened my mouth and said, “well, I guess it does!” She replied with “Wow - I want to be an inventor too.” Cue waterfall tears. That very night, I started writing my first draft of a patent.
I realized that while I was having mom guilt about not being able to do our routine trips to The Children’s Museum, my kids were watching me and learning STEM in a different and exciting way. As a mom, we often feel like we have to juggle it all. Being productive at work, cooking healthy dinners, scheduling HVAC maintenance, signing up for soccer leagues, starting a company … and somehow spending time and effort equally on each task. Even though I continually come up short for the expectations I set for myself, I have been working to focus more on the strong example I am setting for my kids. Particularly my two little girls.
Just this week I was listening to an NPR reporter discuss how culturally ingrained it is for boys to be encouraged to “help out” girls beginning at a very young age. It reminded me of a study that came out just a few months ago that showed boys and girls begin with similar math abilities. So why do men seem to excel in STEM education and careers? One of the study’s authors suggested “the answer involves the societal messages girls and young women get, and the difficulty of entering a field that includes very few women. You can look at ratios of women and men participating in different activities and you can get the hint.”
My father pursued a career in science and encouraged us to pursue our own passions. My mom, like many Asian mothers, placed an emphasis on education. She would serve us homemade South Indian food (on stainless steel of course!) and with a stern smile and raised eyebrow say “ok - eat then study.” She said that boys AND girls can do anything they put their minds to .. again, Mother knows best.
I remember walking through the halls of our medical school and noticing the class photos framed on the walls starting in 1903 were all male. They continued to be all male for years and then finally, you would see one or two females in that composite. Now, for the first time in history, women make up the majority of U.S. medical students! Wow.
So, I’ve now unintentionally entered the world of women inventors with the Ahimsa patent pending nesting spoon. The idea was born out of wanting convenience as I was feeding my nephew. I had been out of the baby phase for quite a while and was caring for him while my sister was on an emergency medicine fellowship interview. I had completely forgotten how messy feeding a baby was! I wanted to set the spoon down, so I could wipe his mouth, but then the mess would get on the high chair or the spoon would tip over the bowl. I thought, hmmm, there must be a spoon that would just rest neatly inside a bowl. After consulting the Internet I couldn't find great options. I worked through many prototypes to fine-tune it for tiny little mouths. And to stay true to our message, I wanted it to have a lifetime’s worth of use. That’s why I wanted the handle to be a bit longer so it could double as a great coffee or tea stirrer! It not only hooks nicely on an Ahimsa bowl or yogurt cup, but fantastically on a mug as well.
When I designed it, it just made sense. I didn’t realize at the time I was actually inventing something. Even typing this it seems a little crazy. I’m an inventor it seems, as my daughter so practically pointed out.
As much as I’d like to say women are being heralded for many inventions, I was shocked to find out how few women-credited inventions there are. Last year the United States Patent Office published new data that showed “the number of patents with at least one woman inventor increased from about 7% in the 1980s to 21% by 2016. Despite this increase, the percentage of all patent inventors that are women, or the annual “women inventor rate,” reached only 12% in 2016.”
I am so grateful for the many women inventors who came before me and hope to encourage all of you who have that next great idea! Sara Blakely is one of my many inspirations. She invented something many women wanted (SPANX®) while facing challenges in a male-dominated manufacturing world. She wrote her own patent because she couldn’t afford a patent attorney and now ... She is a billionaire cheerleader to WOMEN entrepreneurs and inventors - her attitude, ingenuity and perseverance is an inspiration to so many.
Necessity is the mother of invention. So the way I see it - mothers are natural inventors. We often see the world through needs - of our partners, children, professions, homes and ourselves. We often are devising solutions to issues we see in our daily lives. So, you’ve probably already invented something! And as I’m finding, there is an expansive community of women that is ready to help you in any way possible. The #womensupportingwomen movement is real. (By the way, I just learned what a hashtag is a few months ago).
So go on ladies… do your thing. You’ve got this.
REFERENCES:
COVID-19 cannot rob you from learning
Math Looks the Same in the Brains of Boys and Girls, Study Finds
Progress and Potential A profile of women inventors on U.S. patents
Who invented the dishwasher, windshield wiper, caller ID? Women created these 50 inventions.
Additional Fun Facts:
The Majority of U.S. Medical Students Are Women, New Data Show
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
Mealtime Essentials from Ahimsa
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
