Maria Corinta Ferreira (1922–2003?), “Naturalist at the Museu Dr. Álvaro De Castro, Lourenço Marques [Now Maputo], Mozambique,” 1949–1974

Abstract

Abstract In 1940, the naturalist Maria Corinta Ferreira decided to leave the zoology research centre of the board for colonial research (Junta de Investigaçoes Coloniais-JIC), where she felt gender discriminated as a scientist, and compete for the position of naturalist at the Museum Dr. Álvaro de Castro Museum (MAC) located in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), Mozambique. By benefitting from the knowledge and the entomological collections of museums and scientific institutes in South Africa, for 25 years (1949-1974) she built up a scientific career as a researcher in entomology and achieved international recognition. As a woman, however, she never reached the upper positions in MAC’s hierarchy or in the Scientific Research Institute of Mozambique (IICM), the pretext being her formal academic credentials, notably the fact that she was given the title of Doctor on the basis of her published research, rather than upon completing a PhD.