Published: 7.4.22
Updated: 24.7.24
There have been many important women throughout history, although women's history has frequently been neglected or even erased over the centuries.
Women have had significant impacts on society through activism, art, politics, and leadership.
This month we celebrate all the women who fought and still fight for change, no matter how long it takes them, remember those women who used strong words and courageous actions to establish and maintain safe environments for others and themselves.
These women inspire us to be fearless in the pursuit of our dreams, no matter what society may say.
Here are 21 inspiring women from history that all kids should know about:
1. Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross) escaped slavery in 1849 and became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, helping hundreds of slaves to freedom.
She was also a leader in the women's suffrage movement where she campaigned for women's right to vote.
After the Civil War, Tubman worked as a nurse and later as a spy for the Union Army.
In her later years, she helped found the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
2. Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks (born Rosa Louise McCauley) was an activist who is best known for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person, which sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
This boycott was one of the first large-scale protests against racial segregation in America and lasted for over a year.
Parks was also an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement, and later became a member of the NAACP.
3. Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth (born Isabella Baumfree) was an abolitionist and women's rights activist.
She gave powerful speeches on behalf of both causes, and is best known for her quote "Ain't I a Woman?"
4. Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist who became famous after she was shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating for girls' education.
She survived the attack and continued her activism, co-authoring the memoir "I Am Malala," which became an international bestseller.
In 2014, Malala became the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate at age 17.
She co-founded the Malala Fund, which invests in education programs in countries affected by conflict and poverty. The fund's mission is to ensure 12 years of free, safe, and quality education for every girl.
Malala continues to speak out on global platforms, meeting with world leaders to advocate for education and women's rights.
Her ongoing work focuses on creating a world where girls can learn and lead without fear.
5. Anne Frank
Anne Frank wrote a diary while in hiding from the Nazis during World War II, which was published after her death and has become one of the most famous Holocaust memoirs.
She was only 15 years old when she died in a concentration camp but her account of life during the Holocaust has been a source of inspiration for many.
6. Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt (born Anna Eleanor Roosevelt) was the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was a powerful advocate for human rights.
She chaired the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, was a leader in the women's rights movement, and helped establish the United Nations.
7. Marie Curie
Marie Curie (born Maria Skłodowska) was a Polish-French physicist and chemist who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the first person to win two Nobel Prizes. Curie is best known for her work on radioactivity, which she discovered while studying uranium.
During World War I, Marie Curie developed mobile X-ray machines, known as "Little Curies," which were used to diagnose injuries on the battlefield. Her work significantly advanced medical technology and saved countless lives. Curie's pioneering research also led to the discovery of the elements polonium and radium.
Her contributions to science have left a lasting legacy, making her one of the most influential scientists in history.
8. Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an abolitionist and author who is best known for her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, which helped to fuel the abolitionist movement in America.
9. Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player who won 39 Grand Slam singles titles.
In 1973, she became the first woman to be named Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year.
King is also well-known for her activism in support of women's rights and LGBT rights.
10. Malala Yousafzai:
The youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate, advocate for girls' education.
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist who rose to fame after she was shot in the head by the Taliban for her outspoken support of girls' education.
Yousafzai survived the shooting and has since become an international advocate for girls' education, founding the Malala Fund to help promote education for women and girls around the world.
In 2014, she became the youngest ever Nobel Prize laureate when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17.
11. Maya Angelou:
Maya Angelou was an American poet and civil rights activist who became famous for her autobiographical book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which tells the story of her life up to the age of 17.
Angelou was also a leader in the civil rights movement, working with both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
She has received numerous awards and honours over the course of her career, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
12. Indira Gandhi:
Indira Gandhi was the first female Prime Minister of India, serving from 1966 to 1984.
Gandhi was a leader in the Indian independence movement and is considered to be one of the most influential politicians in Indian history.
As Prime Minister, she oversaw major economic and social changes in India, including the country's transition to a socialist economy.
13. Oprah Winfrey:
Oprah Winfrey is an American media mogul, actress, and philanthropist.
She is best known for her talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which was the highest-rated program of its kind in history, however she has also been successful in business, launching her own television network, OWN.
Winfrey is a powerful advocate for women's rights and has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
She is also one of the richest women in the world and has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
14. Amelia Earhart:
Amelia Earhart was an American aviator who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
In 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo non-stop from coast to coast in the United States.
Earhart was also a pioneer in the field of aviation, helping to advance the development of women in aviation.
She disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to circumnavigate the world in 1937, and her fate, to this day, remains a mystery.
15. Emmeline Pankhurst:
Emmeline Pankhurst was a British women's rights activist who was instrumental in the women's suffrage movement.
Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union, which was the most influential women's rights organisation in Britain at the time.
She was also a vocal advocate for women's rights during the early years of the women's liberation movement.
16. Corazon Aquino:
Corazon Aquino was the first female President of the Philippines, serving from 1986 to 1992.
Aquino was a prominent figure in the People Power Revolution, which overthrew Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
As President, she oversaw the restoration of democracy in the Philippines and the country's transition to a capitalist economy.
17. Aung San Suu Kyi:
Aung San Suu Kyi is a Burmese political activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
She is the leader of the National League for Democracy, and has been imprisoned by the Burmese government on numerous occasions for her activism.
Suu Kyi has received numerous awards and honours throughout her career, including the Nobel Peace Prize and the Sakharov Prize.
18. Gloria Steinem:
Gloria Steinem is an American journalist, feminist, and women's rights activist.
She is best known for her work as a founder of Ms. Magazine, which was the first feminist magazine in the United States.
Steinem has also been a prominent figure in the women's liberation movement and has worked to advance the rights
19. Ruth Bader-Ginsburg:
Ruth Bader-Ginsburg was an American lawyer and Supreme Court justice.
She was best known for her work as a women's rights advocate, arguing several landmark cases before the Supreme Court in favour of gender equality.
Bader-Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton in 1993 and was the second female justice to serve on the court.
20. Hillary Rodham Clinton:
Hillary Rodham Clinton is an American politician and diplomat.
She served as the 67th United States Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013, and was a candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States in 2016.
Clinton is the first female nominee of a major political party in the United States, and is the first woman to be elected U.S. Senator from New York.
She is also the author of several books, including It Takes a Village and What Happened.
21. Sally Ride:
Sally Ride was an American astronaut and physicist.
She was the first American woman in space, and the youngest American astronaut to date.
Ride also worked as a professor of physics at the University of California, San Diego.
She received numerous awards and honours throughout her career, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Space Medal of Honour.
Young Female Activists
Young female activists like Greta Thunberg and X González (formerly known as Emma González) have become prominent figures in their respective advocacy areas, inspiring millions around the world.
Here are detailed profiles of these influential young activists:
Greta Thunberg
Full Name: Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg
Born: January 3, 2003, in Stockholm, Sweden
Diagnosis: Asperger syndrome, a form of autism
Climate Change Advocate: Greta is best known for her efforts to combat climate change. She began her activism by convincing her parents to reduce their carbon footprint and later started the "School Strike for Climate" outside the Swedish parliament in August 2018 at the age of 15.
Fridays for Future: Her solitary protest inspired the global movement known as Fridays for Future, where students worldwide skip school on Fridays to demand stronger climate action.
Global Influence: Thunberg has spoken at numerous high-profile events, including the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, where her impassioned speech "How dare you!" gained international attention.
Awards and Recognition: She has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times, named Time's Person of the Year in 2019, and received numerous other accolades for her activism.
Greta emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change and criticizes political inaction. She advocates for immediate and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
X González (Emma González)
Born: November 11, 1999, in Parkland, Florida, USA
Education: Graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from New College of Florida in 2022
Gun Control Advocate: X González became a prominent gun control activist after surviving the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in February 2018, the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history.
Never Again MSD: They co-founded the gun-control advocacy group Never Again MSD, which aims to prevent gun violence through legislative action.
March for Our Lives: González helped organize the March for Our Lives protest in Washington, D.C., which became the largest student protest in American history. Their speech at the event, where they stood in silence for 6 minutes and 20 seconds to mark the duration of the shooting, became iconic.
Media Presence: They have made numerous media appearances, including a televised town hall meeting where they confronted NRA representatives and politicians about their stance on gun control.
González calls out politicians and organizations funded by the NRA for their lack of action on gun control. They advocate for stricter gun laws to prevent future tragedies and protect students and communities.
Both Greta Thunberg and X González have significantly impacted their respective fields of activism.
Thunberg has galvanized a global youth movement demanding urgent climate action, while González has brought national attention to the issue of gun violence and the need for stricter gun control laws.
Their passionate advocacy and ability to mobilize young people highlight the power of youth activism in driving social and political change.
Women in Business and Entrepreneurship
Women have made remarkable strides in the business world, with leaders like Sara Blakely and Sheryl Sandberg standing out for their innovation, leadership, and influence.
Here are detailed profiles of these two influential female business leaders:
Women in Business and Entrepreneurship
Women have made remarkable strides in the business world, with leaders like Sara Blakely and Sheryl Sandberg standing out for their innovation, leadership, and influence. Here are detailed profiles of these two influential female business leaders:
Sara Blakely
Born: February 21, 1971, in Clearwater, Florida, USA
Education: Florida State University (Communications)
Founder of Spanx: Sara Blakely is the founder of Spanx, a company specializing in body-slimming undergarments, leggings, and apparel. She conceived the idea for Spanx in the late 1990s when she cut the feet off her pantyhose to create a smoother appearance under white trousers.
Entrepreneurial Journey: Blakely started her career selling fax machines door-to-door. With no background in fashion or retail, she invested $5,000 of her savings to develop her prototype and later secured a patent for her invention.
Growth of Spanx: Spanx quickly became a household name, especially after being featured on Oprah Winfrey's "Favorite Things" list in 2000. The brand's initial success led to rapid growth, with Spanx generating millions in revenue within its first few years.
Philanthropy: In 2006, Blakely founded the Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation, which supports women through education, entrepreneurship, and the arts. She was also the first female billionaire to join The Giving Pledge, committing to donate half of her wealth to charitable causes.
Self-Made Billionaire: In 2012, Blakely was named the youngest self-made female billionaire by Forbes. Her net worth was significantly bolstered by a deal with private equity firm Blackstone in 2021, which valued Spanx at over $1 billion.
Blakely's story is a testament to the power of innovation and perseverance. She has inspired countless entrepreneurs with her belief that "everybody has a multimillion-dollar idea inside them."
Sheryl Sandberg
Born: August 28, 1969, in Washington, D.C., USA
Education: Harvard University (B.A. in Economics), Harvard Business School (MBA)
COO of Meta (formerly Facebook): Sheryl Sandberg served as the Chief Operating Officer of Meta from 2008 to 2022. She was instrumental in transforming Facebook into a profitable company by developing its advertising business.
Lean In Movement: Sandberg is the author of "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead," a book that sparked a global conversation about women's leadership and workplace equality. The book led to the creation of LeanIn.Org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women.
Previous Roles: Before joining Facebook, Sandberg was Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google and served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers during the Clinton administration.
Advocate for Women: Sandberg has been a vocal advocate for gender equality in the workplace. Her Lean In Circles, small peer groups that meet regularly to support each other, have grown to over 50,000 groups worldwide.
Awards and Honors: Sandberg has been named one of the most powerful women in business by Fortune and Forbes multiple times. She was also the first woman to serve on Facebook's board of directors.
Sandberg continues to focus on philanthropy through her foundation, which supports initiatives aimed at empowering women and building resilience in the face of adversity.
Sara Blakely and Sheryl Sandberg are exemplary figures in the world of business and entrepreneurship.
Blakely's journey from a door-to-door salesperson to a self-made billionaire showcases the power of innovation and determination.
Sandberg's leadership at Meta and her advocacy for women's empowerment have made her a pivotal figure in promoting gender equality in the corporate world.
Both women continue to inspire and pave the way for future generations of female entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Women in STEM Today
Women continue to make significant strides in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Here are some contemporary female scientists and technologists who are making notable contributions:
L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards 2024
The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Awards recognise exceptional female scientists from different regions of the world. Here are some of the 2024 laureates:
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Professor Rose Leke (Africa and the Arab States): An immunologist from Cameroon, Professor Leke has made pioneering efforts in improving outcomes in pregnancy-associated malaria, supporting polio eradication, and enhancing immunisation in Africa. Her work has had a profound impact on public health across the continent.
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Professor Alicia Kowaltowski (Latin America and the Caribbean): A biochemist from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, Professor Kowaltowski is recognised for her research on mitochondrial bioenergetics and its implications for health and disease.
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Professor Geneviève Almouzni (Europe): A molecular biologist from France, Professor Almouzni has made significant contributions to understanding DNA packaging and epigenetics, which are crucial for cell identity and cancer research.
WISE Awards 2024
The WISE Awards celebrate outstanding women in STEM and organisations promoting gender balance. Some of the 2024 winners include:
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Karrie Liu: A mathematician and founder of Hypatia Analytics Ltd., Liu received the WISE Outstanding Woman in Science Award for her dedication to supporting the next generation of women in STEM.
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Faye Jenkins: Recognised with the WISE Outstanding Woman in Engineering Award, Jenkins has been a trailblazer in diversity and inclusion within the engineering industry for nearly two decades.
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Katie Gallagher: The Managing Director at Manchester Digital, Gallagher was awarded the WISE Outstanding Woman in Technology Award for her efforts in driving social mobility in the tech sector and inspiring women in Greater Manchester.
Notable Contemporary Female Scientists and Technologists
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Dr. Anna Trigos: A computational biologist and researcher of cancer ecosystems, Dr. Trigos is the head of the Multi-omic Evolution and Ecosystems Laboratory at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia. She has been recognised for her groundbreaking work in cancer research.
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Dr. Sue-Ann Watson: A marine biologist and Senior Lecturer at James Cook University, Australia, Dr. Watson has made significant contributions to understanding how marine animals respond to climate change. She is also committed to science communication and public engagement.
Historical Context and Legacy
Women have historically made significant contributions to technology, often overcoming substantial barriers. Some of the most influential women in tech history include:
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Ada Lovelace: Often considered the first computer programmer, Lovelace's work on Charles Babbage's analytical engine laid the foundation for modern computing.
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Grace Hopper: A pioneer in computer science, Hopper developed the first compiler and was instrumental in the creation of COBOL, a major programming language.
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Radia Perlman: Known as the "Mother of the Internet," Perlman invented the spanning-tree protocol, a fundamental technology for network bridges.
These contemporary and historical figures highlight the critical role women play in advancing STEM fields, inspiring future generations to continue breaking barriers and achieving excellence.
Women in Arts and Literature
Here are profiles of two influential women in arts and literature - Frida Kahlo and Virginia Woolf:
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican painter renowned for her vibrant self-portraits and works inspired by nature and Mexican culture. Some key points about Kahlo:
- She developed her artistic style after being severely injured in a bus accident at age 18, which left her with lifelong pain and medical issues.
- Kahlo's paintings often explored themes of identity, gender, class, and race in Mexican society. She blended elements of realism and fantasy in her work.
- Her self-portraits are particularly famous, featuring bold colors and symbolic imagery drawn from Mexican folk art and pre-Columbian culture.
- Notable works include "The Two Fridas" (1939) and "Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird" (1940).
- Though not widely recognized during her lifetime, Kahlo gained prominence in the late 20th century as an icon of female creativity and Mexican national culture.
- The Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City, located in her former home Casa Azul, is dedicated to her life and work.
Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) was an English writer who became one of the most important modernist authors of the 20th century. Key aspects of Woolf's career and influence include:
- She pioneered the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative technique in novels like "Mrs. Dalloway" (1925) and "To the Lighthouse" (1927).
- Woolf was a central figure in the influential Bloomsbury Group of English intellectuals and artists in the early 20th century.
- Her essay "A Room of One's Own" (1929) is considered a foundational text in feminist literary criticism, arguing for women's need for financial independence and private space to write fiction.
- Other notable works include the novels "Orlando" (1928) and "The Waves" (1931), as well as numerous essays and short stories.
- Woolf's writing style is characterized by its lyrical, introspective quality and innovative narrative techniques that explore characters' inner thoughts and perceptions.
- She suffered from mental health issues throughout her life, which influenced her work and ultimately led to her suicide in 1941.
- Woolf's contributions to modernist literature and feminist thought have secured her place as one of the most studied and influential writers of the 20th century.
Both Kahlo and Woolf made significant contributions to their respective fields, challenging conventions and exploring themes of identity, gender, and the inner lives of women in their work.
Their legacies continue to inspire artists, writers, and feminist thinkers today.
Wrapping Up:
Every single one of these women made their own unique contributions to society, and they are all excellent role models for your children - teach them about these women's accomplishments and encourage them to be inspired by their stories.
Let your kids know that they can do anything they set their minds to, and that nothing is impossible if they put their heart into it.
Resources:
1. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_Parks_with_Lani_Guinier_at_1993_march_on_Washington.jpg.
2. Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0 - creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
3. Brian Stansberry (photographer), CC BY 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
4. Luciaroblego, CC BY-SA 4.0 - creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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