Marching on to honor women who have changed history we bring you some more inspiring ladies. Here are five women that have defied gender roles, given voices to the voiceless, and never took no for answer. These outstanding women have been a great part in making today’s world a safer, healthier and smarter place for women.
Jane Addams is most known as being the founder of the social work profession. She was a reformist of the Progressive Era and sought to make changes in public health, childcare and women’s rights. Addams was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. She was passionate about the Hull House, an American settlement facility in Chicago, Illinois where she provided major funding for repairs and upkeep of the building as well as supporting the tenants and advocating for their rights.
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, and also to this day remains the youngest American astronaut to ever travel in space. Ride is also credited with being the first astronaut from the LGBTQ community. Though she kept her personal life quite private during her life, in her obituary her partner of 27 years, Tam O’Shaughnessy, who is now the CEO of the Sally Ride Science was recognized. Ride always thought of her access to science as a privilege and her foundation provides access to science in under-represented communities.
Annie Clark & Andrea Pino are two amazing young women who founded the organization End Rape on Campus. Both girls were students at UNC Chapel Hill and were victims of sexual assault. Through their own personal experiences and the heart-wrenching stories of other victims on their campus, they filed a Title IX class action lawsuit against their university. They have since been a part of assisting other college women to file their own Title IX suits, as well as working directly with US Senators to change policy on campus assault. These two bright, passionate and driven young women are making college a safer place for all students.
Millicent Fawcett was an English feminist and intellect that lead the women’s suffrage movement in England. Most of Fawcett’s focus was on gaining access for women in higher education. Fawcett is considered instrumental in gaining the vote for six million British women over 30-years-old in 1918.
Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. Maathai is the founder of the Green Belt movement, an initiative that takes a holistic approach environmental conservation and community development by encouraging women in rural Kenya to plant trees in their villages. Over 30,000 women and men have been educated in forestry, bee-keeping and food processing through this movement. In 2004, Professor Maathai became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy and peace.
Three cheers for all of these amazing women! They’ve changed the world and we are proud of their achievements.
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