Género y clase en la biografía de una científica de élite

Abstract

In spite of the fact that Sociology has proved that social conditionings, such as gender or social class, are crucial in explaining the life patterns of the individual, the belief that he or she can overcome adverse sociological limitations in order to achieve outstanding status is common. Exceptions to the empirical regularity constitute examples that support the aforementioned idea. Gertrudis de la Fuente, pioneer of Biochemistry in Spain, from a working class family, is one of those exceptions. Her life history is useful for reflecting on the incidence of social conditionings on «construction of vocation» and on shape of life patterns.