Opportunities for women in STEM were extremely limited. Societal norms often confined women to domestic roles, and they faced significant barriers to accessing education and professional careers in scientific or technical fields. There were a few exceptional figures in STEM who managed to overcome the numerous obstacles.

The late 19th century saw a gradual expansion of opportunities for women in education and some STEM-related fields. Some women gained access to higher education, though often in separate institutions or programs. However, STEM careers remained male-dominated. Some prominent women started to make inroads as scientists, mathematicians, and inventors.

Despite the challenges, some women found success as inventors, navigating the patent system to protect their innovations. Mary Walton's achievements are part of this story. Although the numbers of female inventors were far fewer than males, their successes demonstrated that women possessed the creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance to contribute to technological advancements. Women faced specific challenges like societal expectations and the legal limitations some laws placed on married women who couldn't own property or patents in their own names.