I feel like there are so many famous women that have contributed so much, but we barely even know of them. Let's start a thread of influential women to learn about/who are overlooked. I'll start below:)
Dr. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space as well as the first LGBTQ person in space. She was an astrophysicist as well as an astronaut. She was born May 26, 1951 and grew up in Los Angeles. She went to Stanford University and received a bachelors in both English and physics in 1973, she continued to study physics earning a masters degree in 1975, and Ph.D. in 1978. Later that year, she landed a spot on NASA's astronaut program and became the first American woman in space on June 18, 1983. She worked as a mission specialist on Challenger, a space shuttle, and helped deploy satellites using the robotic arm. She flew again in 1984, and stopped working for NASA in 1987. She taught at the University of California, San Diego, and helped many students, especially girls study science and math.
She was born in Wellington, New Zealand on August 30, 1912, and became a nurse and a journalist. After World War Two broke out, she joined the French Resistance and later the Special Operations Executive and also had a brief role as an intelligence officer in the Air Ministry. Between the years 1940 and 1942, she manned dangerous escape routes through German-occupied France, saving the lives of hundreds of Allied Troops.
Her acts of bravery eventually got her nicknamed as "The White Mouse", and ended up becoming one of the most decorated women of the war. The honors she received include the France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, British War Medal 1939–45, French Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, French Croix de Guerre with Star and two Palms, US Medal for Freedom with Palm and French Medaille de la Resistance.
Rosa Parks was born on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her parents separated when Parks was young, leading her to live with her mother's family in Pine Level, Alabama. Parks' grandparents were extremely strong advocates for racial equality being former slaves themselves. In fact as a child, Rosa Parks experienced firsthand as her grandfather stood in front of their house with a shotgun, while Ku Klux Klan members marched down the street.
Throughout her education, she attended one-room, segregated schools that often lacked adequate school supplies. Unfortunately in 11th grade, Parks left school in order to take care of her sick grandmother and mother. Even after, Parks was unable to return to her studies. Instead, she got a job at a shirt factory in Montgomery. Later after marriage, she earned her high school degree with her husband's support.
Rosa Parks is primarily known for her monumental role in the Montgomery bus boycott. She is also referred to as "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement". She helped initiate the civil rights movement in the United States when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery bus in 1955. Her actions initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This boycott’s success launched nationwide efforts to end racial segregation of public facilities.
Definitely one of the most influential women in history. Rosa Parks was so selfless and was willing to do whatever it took to fight for equality! Such an inspiration and role model for men and women alike!
Sybil Ludington should be given greater recognition than what she currently has. This is because Ludington is greatly overlooked and so are her efforts and achievements. I definitely agree with you, it is just as important to study about Ludington as it is to study about any other historical figure.
Born April 5, 1761, Fredericksburg [now Ludingtonville], New York [U.S.]—died February 26, 1839, Unadilla, New York, U.S.)
American Revolutionary War heroine, remembered for her valiant role in defense against British attack.
Daughter of Henry Ludington, a New York militia officer and later an aide to Gen. George Washington.
Ludington family and first published more than 100 years later, on April 26, 1777, a messenger reached the Ludington house with news of Gov. William Tryon’s attack on Danbury, Connecticut, some 15 miles (25 km) to the southeast, where the munitions and stores for the militia of the entire region were stored
Through the night the 16-year-old girl rode her horse nearly 40 miles (65 km) on unfamiliar roads around Putnam county, spreading the alarm. She ranged south to Mahopac and north to Stormville before returning home.
So basically she did what Paul Revere did, except she was like half his age and yet most people probably have never learned about her. Shouldn't her name be just as important as Paul Revere's?
I'm a huge history fanatic, and so reading about Sybil Ludington's story was so inspiring to me! She absolutely deserves to be recognized more and her story should be shared as much as Paul Revere's is.
Ludington's story is really interesting and you bring up a good point, why don't we know about her? Why aren't we taught about her when we learn about the revolutionary war? That is definitely something that needs to be addressed!
Marie Curie was born on November 7, 1867, and she was a physicist, chemist, and leader in the study of radiation. She was known as the first woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize and the first person to win the award twice. Both she and her husband, Pierre Curie, led to the discovery of two major elements, polonium, and radium. After her husband passed away, she furthered the development and research of X-rays.
As a child, Curie was bright and curious allowing her to excel at school. However, despite being a top student in her secondary school, she could not attend the male-only University of Warsaw. As a result, she continued her education in Warsaw’s “Floating University” which was a series of underground informal classes held in secret. Furthermore, for about 5 years Curie worked as a tutor and governess and used her spare time to study and read about physics, chemistry, and math. Finally, Curie completed her master's degree in physics in 1893 and earned another mathematics degree the following year.
Later on, Curie conducted experiments on Uranium rays to discover radioactivity, and this led to the development of the radioactive materials Radium and Polonium. Also, when World War I broke out in 1914, Curie devoted her time to creating resources to help the cause, this allowed her to champion the use of portable x-ray machines in the field which she named “Little Curies."
Finally, Curie won two Nobel prizes, one for her and her husband's work in radioactivity and physics in 1903, and one in 1911 for chemistry regarding her discovery of radium and polonium. Sadly, Curie passed away on July 4, 1934, of aplastic anemia, believed to be caused by prolonged exposure to radiation.
Marie Curie is an influential figure who broke barriers and represented women in STEM across the world. It is essential that we understand and appreciate her hard work and accomplishments as she will be remembered for generations to come.
Marie Curie is honestly an ICON. She paved the way for women in science and like she was the first woman to get the Nobel Chemistry Prize and for the first time this year two women were given the Nobel Chemistry Prize. It's cool to see how far women have come.
It's amazing how much good one person can do! Her contributions to science were amazing and so important. Plus, it's refreshing to see a woman in STEM during this time period who actually received credit for her work. I agree with Aashna, she is definitely an icon!
Another woman who is often overlooked but made such a huge contribution to the world is Rosalind Franklin. Franklin was an English chemist and x-ray crystallographer, and a pioneer in photochemistry. She did really important work in the micro-structures of coals and carbons, but her biggest accomplishment was in the field of DNA science. Using x-rays, Franklin discovered the double helix structure of DNA and gave us our current DNA model. Before her discovery, no one knew what DNA looked like on a molecular scale, so this was huge; one of the most important breakthroughs in molecular biology.
However, Franklin did not receive credit for her work. James Watson and Francis Crick, two molecular biologists competing with Franklin to find the structure of DNA, stole her research and published it as their own. Worldwide, they are credited with the discovery and won a Nobel Prize for it. Because Franklin was a woman in a field completely dominated by males, there was nothing she could do to reclaim her research and right this injustice.
Tragically, Franklin ended up dying really young- at 37 years old- because of her constant exposure to x-rays. She died for her discovery and didn't get credit. Franklin was an extremely accomplished woman in science at a time when there were few, if any, others. It is important that everyone knows the extent of her contribution to chemistry and biology and remembers her as the hero she was.
I totally agree! Rosalind Franklin is such an inspiration for countless girls interested in science, like me, and her work on the structure of DNA is critical to modern molecular biology. I remember learning about DNA in seventh grade and her name was barely mentioned a couple of times. She is so overlooked.
Born in 1815 to the famous poet Lord Byron, Ada Lovelace was a very curious, intelligent, and bold girl from a young age. At the time of her adolescence, and for a very long time, it was uncommon for a girl to be interested in math or science, and even more uncommon for them to learn and pursue those subjects. However, Ada loved both very early on, and had her heart set on pursuing them!
She was well educated, and specifically tutored in math and science, and often challenged gender learning stereotypes. Since UK universities at the time did not allow women to study, Ada was instead tutored through college. By being interested in STEM and actually continuing it through her adult life, she paved the way for many women scientists, mathematicians, and other STEM motivated women.
After her education, she worked with Charles Babbage in mathematics, algorithms, and the analytical engine. Together they created the first computer from Babbage's proposed plan. Later, Ada was known as the first computer programmer in history. Babbage is often solely credited with the work of the computer and programming, however, it was also Ada's work. And, Ada was the first computer programmer.
Ada Lovelace, not only broke gender barriers in education and fields of interest, but she also paved the way for people, and especially women, in computer science. As one of the most intelligent mathematicians, and the first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace was an extremely important and amazing woman! It's time everyone learned about her:)
I definitely agree that Ada Lovelace is a greatly overlooked person and it is important for us to understand the great influence that she had. Lovelace paved the way for women across the world not just in the field of STEM but in hundreds of others. I am a person who loves STEM and programming and her story and ideals continue to inspire me.
@Becca Jeffries ahh yess she is so cool, and so many of her crucial ideas go uncredited! Her interest in a field that was so "unusual" for women is so inspiring, especially for Girls in STEM
@Prasidha Padmanabhan definitely. And while we still have a ways to go (there are, I think, only 6 girls in my computer science class of 25ish people) programmers like Lovelace and Grace Hopper definitely opened many doors for us that were previously closed.
Dr. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space as well as the first LGBTQ person in space. She was an astrophysicist as well as an astronaut. She was born May 26, 1951 and grew up in Los Angeles. She went to Stanford University and received a bachelors in both English and physics in 1973, she continued to study physics earning a masters degree in 1975, and Ph.D. in 1978. Later that year, she landed a spot on NASA's astronaut program and became the first American woman in space on June 18, 1983. She worked as a mission specialist on Challenger, a space shuttle, and helped deploy satellites using the robotic arm. She flew again in 1984, and stopped working for NASA in 1987. She taught at the University of California, San Diego, and helped many students, especially girls study science and math.
Nancy Wake:
She was born in Wellington, New Zealand on August 30, 1912, and became a nurse and a journalist. After World War Two broke out, she joined the French Resistance and later the Special Operations Executive and also had a brief role as an intelligence officer in the Air Ministry. Between the years 1940 and 1942, she manned dangerous escape routes through German-occupied France, saving the lives of hundreds of Allied Troops.
Her acts of bravery eventually got her nicknamed as "The White Mouse", and ended up becoming one of the most decorated women of the war. The honors she received include the France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, British War Medal 1939–45, French Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, French Croix de Guerre with Star and two Palms, US Medal for Freedom with Palm and French Medaille de la Resistance.
Rosa Parks was born on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her parents separated when Parks was young, leading her to live with her mother's family in Pine Level, Alabama. Parks' grandparents were extremely strong advocates for racial equality being former slaves themselves. In fact as a child, Rosa Parks experienced firsthand as her grandfather stood in front of their house with a shotgun, while Ku Klux Klan members marched down the street.
Throughout her education, she attended one-room, segregated schools that often lacked adequate school supplies. Unfortunately in 11th grade, Parks left school in order to take care of her sick grandmother and mother. Even after, Parks was unable to return to her studies. Instead, she got a job at a shirt factory in Montgomery. Later after marriage, she earned her high school degree with her husband's support.
Rosa Parks is primarily known for her monumental role in the Montgomery bus boycott. She is also referred to as "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement". She helped initiate the civil rights movement in the United States when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery bus in 1955. Her actions initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This boycott’s success launched nationwide efforts to end racial segregation of public facilities.
Sybil Ludington should be given greater recognition than what she currently has. This is because Ludington is greatly overlooked and so are her efforts and achievements. I definitely agree with you, it is just as important to study about Ludington as it is to study about any other historical figure.
Sybil Ludington:
Born April 5, 1761, Fredericksburg [now Ludingtonville], New York [U.S.]—died February 26, 1839, Unadilla, New York, U.S.)
American Revolutionary War heroine, remembered for her valiant role in defense against British attack.
Daughter of Henry Ludington, a New York militia officer and later an aide to Gen. George Washington.
Ludington family and first published more than 100 years later, on April 26, 1777, a messenger reached the Ludington house with news of Gov. William Tryon’s attack on Danbury, Connecticut, some 15 miles (25 km) to the southeast, where the munitions and stores for the militia of the entire region were stored
Through the night the 16-year-old girl rode her horse nearly 40 miles (65 km) on unfamiliar roads around Putnam county, spreading the alarm. She ranged south to Mahopac and north to Stormville before returning home.
So basically she did what Paul Revere did, except she was like half his age and yet most people probably have never learned about her. Shouldn't her name be just as important as Paul Revere's?
Marie Curie was born on November 7, 1867, and she was a physicist, chemist, and leader in the study of radiation. She was known as the first woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize and the first person to win the award twice. Both she and her husband, Pierre Curie, led to the discovery of two major elements, polonium, and radium. After her husband passed away, she furthered the development and research of X-rays.
As a child, Curie was bright and curious allowing her to excel at school. However, despite being a top student in her secondary school, she could not attend the male-only University of Warsaw. As a result, she continued her education in Warsaw’s “Floating University” which was a series of underground informal classes held in secret. Furthermore, for about 5 years Curie worked as a tutor and governess and used her spare time to study and read about physics, chemistry, and math. Finally, Curie completed her master's degree in physics in 1893 and earned another mathematics degree the following year.
Later on, Curie conducted experiments on Uranium rays to discover radioactivity, and this led to the development of the radioactive materials Radium and Polonium. Also, when World War I broke out in 1914, Curie devoted her time to creating resources to help the cause, this allowed her to champion the use of portable x-ray machines in the field which she named “Little Curies."
Finally, Curie won two Nobel prizes, one for her and her husband's work in radioactivity and physics in 1903, and one in 1911 for chemistry regarding her discovery of radium and polonium. Sadly, Curie passed away on July 4, 1934, of aplastic anemia, believed to be caused by prolonged exposure to radiation.
Marie Curie is an influential figure who broke barriers and represented women in STEM across the world. It is essential that we understand and appreciate her hard work and accomplishments as she will be remembered for generations to come.
~Shivani Kanjerla
Another woman who is often overlooked but made such a huge contribution to the world is Rosalind Franklin. Franklin was an English chemist and x-ray crystallographer, and a pioneer in photochemistry. She did really important work in the micro-structures of coals and carbons, but her biggest accomplishment was in the field of DNA science. Using x-rays, Franklin discovered the double helix structure of DNA and gave us our current DNA model. Before her discovery, no one knew what DNA looked like on a molecular scale, so this was huge; one of the most important breakthroughs in molecular biology.
However, Franklin did not receive credit for her work. James Watson and Francis Crick, two molecular biologists competing with Franklin to find the structure of DNA, stole her research and published it as their own. Worldwide, they are credited with the discovery and won a Nobel Prize for it. Because Franklin was a woman in a field completely dominated by males, there was nothing she could do to reclaim her research and right this injustice.
Tragically, Franklin ended up dying really young- at 37 years old- because of her constant exposure to x-rays. She died for her discovery and didn't get credit. Franklin was an extremely accomplished woman in science at a time when there were few, if any, others. It is important that everyone knows the extent of her contribution to chemistry and biology and remembers her as the hero she was.
Ada Lovelace:
Born in 1815 to the famous poet Lord Byron, Ada Lovelace was a very curious, intelligent, and bold girl from a young age. At the time of her adolescence, and for a very long time, it was uncommon for a girl to be interested in math or science, and even more uncommon for them to learn and pursue those subjects. However, Ada loved both very early on, and had her heart set on pursuing them!
She was well educated, and specifically tutored in math and science, and often challenged gender learning stereotypes. Since UK universities at the time did not allow women to study, Ada was instead tutored through college. By being interested in STEM and actually continuing it through her adult life, she paved the way for many women scientists, mathematicians, and other STEM motivated women.
After her education, she worked with Charles Babbage in mathematics, algorithms, and the analytical engine. Together they created the first computer from Babbage's proposed plan. Later, Ada was known as the first computer programmer in history. Babbage is often solely credited with the work of the computer and programming, however, it was also Ada's work. And, Ada was the first computer programmer.
Ada Lovelace, not only broke gender barriers in education and fields of interest, but she also paved the way for people, and especially women, in computer science. As one of the most intelligent mathematicians, and the first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace was an extremely important and amazing woman! It's time everyone learned about her:)
Ok, your turn everyone!
-Prasidha