Historical Women Figures
Women are fighting for the equal rights all over the world and there are many female in the history who paved the way and open the doors for new opportunities for women. Here are some of the most famous historical women figures.
Equal rights are what women always fought for and history is filled with sacrifices and effort by women who paved the way for the future women. There are numerous women in the history who pushed the boundaries and broke those typical stereotypes and proved the world their bravery, skills, power and intelligence. They did not just started a new leap of women in various fields of aviation, medicine, science, art, politics, activism, literature and mathematics but their contribution will be always be remembered for everyone including men and women both. They proved that women can be leaders and rulers and much more then what the society think they are capable of. Here are some of the most famous historical women Figures.
Jane Austen (1775-1817)
Jane Austin is considered the Queen of Rom Com novels and she is regarded as the one of the most influential authors of all times. The author question women roles in society and created some of the best stories. Her novels are humorous and interesting and had the ability to make you sit for hours without getting tired. Jane Austen pushed away the boundaries of that time period about social perception of fashion and culture. She observed society and social norms very keenly and closely. She gave center role to young woman with romantic dreams and how to not give up on self worth. She had a great grip over the characters of her novel. Mr Darcy, Emma Woodhouse and Mr. Knightly are some of the most famous fictional characters from her novels. Her identity was hidden throughout her career and she published those novels anonymously. No one identify her until her death when her brother revealed that she was the writer of all those masterpieces. The reason behind it was the socio economic consideration of her time because in those time publishing stories for money wasn’t considered “Lady like”. There are many other female authors from that era who published their work anonymously for the same reason.
Harriet Tubman (1822- 1913)
Harriet Tubman is one of the most courageous and brave women in black history as well as in the history of United States. She was born into slavery but she denied to accept racial discrimination and escaped to reach freedom. She escaped through Underground Railroad alone. She began working with Antislavery Underground Railroad activists. She made 13 missions to rescue more then 70 enslaved people in her family including her parents, her siblings, nieces and nephews. She worked with the union during civil war and became the first women to lead a major military operation in United States where she and 150 other African American soldiers rescued more then 700 salves in the Combahee Ferry Raid. She became the pride of black people. She later on became an activist for women rights. She is always remembered as savior for finding a new home for blacks where they can live in freedom.
Anne Frank (1929-1945)
Anne Frank was young diarist and the teenage writer of “ The diary of Anne frank”, which is considered one of the most honest and powerful accounts of World War II. She was from a Jewish family living in Germany when Hitler power starts to rise during World War II. Her family was hiding in a secret Annex throughout the war but they were discovered and sent to the concentration camp in 1944. She wrote all those painful moments of fear and anguish. She died from Typhus in the concentration camp along with many other holocaust victims. Her father was only one who survived in her family. Her father decided to publish Anne’s Diary that became one of the most famous and intimate portrayal of one of the most inhumane moments in the history. The dairy of Ann Frank is translated into more then 70 languages. She is the most discussed holocaust victim of World War II.
Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
Maya Angelou is one of the most influential women in American history for speaking about racial and social issues. She is a poet, a writer, singer memoirist and an activist that is known for her lyrical prose and regal speaking voice. She is the first black woman to ever appear on a Quarter. She wrote her autobiography “ I know why the caged Birds sing”, that gained fame and popularity internationally and become the first non-fiction best seller by an African American woman. That book had accounts of rape, racism, racial prejudice, and discrimination that she faced throughout her life while living in Arkansas in the segregated south. She is the first woman to write and present a poem at a presidential inauguration and along with that she is also a recipient of over thirty different honorary degrees. Her writings are always considered the celebration of black culture and the loudest voices in the civil right movement. Her work explored issues and illustrate how loving literature and strong character can help in overcoming trauma.
Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603)
Queen Elizabeth is one of the most famous and successful monarchs in the history of British monarchy. She is also known as “ The virgin Queen” because she gave priority to her country than marring a man. England became a major power in politics, art, business and commerce in Europe under her rule. Her way to throne was tragic and filled with difficulties. She broke the wrong perception of people in that era who think that women can’t reign or become a leader. Queen Elizabeth fight for her throne and become one of the greatest female leaders in history. She is known for her intelligence, wise and cunning thinking.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Marie Curie is one of the most prominent names in the fields of chemistry and physics. She invented the new science of radioactivity and coined the term radioactivity by herself. She is known for making discoveries that launched effective cures for cancer. She was the first woman to won the Nobel Prize and she is the first person (not first woman) in the whole world to won the second Nobel Prize. She is also the first female professor in the university of Paris. She is always remembered as the pioneer in science. She changed the general perspective of men and society towards women limit to the household and not doing much genius and experimental work. She faced discrimination on the basis of her gender but never step back from fulfilling her dream.
Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
Speaking of one of the most inspirational black women in America’s history, Sojourner Truth leaves a long legacy of her bravery and courage. Her words belong to the most famous speeches by any women in the movements. She is an Abolitionist and a women right activist. Her famous speech from Ohio women right’s Convention in Akron 1851 has came to be known as “ Ain’t I a Women?”. She was separated from her family at the age of nine and sold for an auction as a slave along with a flock of sheep for 100$. In 1829 she escaped to freedom with her infant daughter but her two other children had to be left behind. She started advocating for the rights of women and Black people in late 1940s. She became a voice of the females and black people.
Claudette Colvin (1938- present)
She sparked in the Montgomery Bus boycott movement, 15 years old Claudette Colvin refused to give her seat to the white woman while coming from high school in March 2,1955, nine month prior Rosa park did the same. Claude Colvin told media that she was inspired by the early pioneers who stand up from themselves and their people. While talking about the incident with Newsweek she said “ I felt like Sojourner Truth was pushing me down on one shoulder and Harriet Tubman was pushing down on the other, saying sit down girl”, That make her glued to her seat because that was not just a seat that was racial segregation and discrimination. She was arrested for violating Montgomery segregation law. She pled not guilty and she was given probation.
Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958)
She was an English woman who was born with the passion to become a scientist and eventually she succeeded to get a doctorate in Chemistry. She studied X ray techniques for three years and than returned to England and led a research team that was working on finding the structure of DNA. It was a time when women aren’t even allowed to eat their lunch in the collage cafeteria. She was the first one to show the groundbreaking X ray image of DNA known as photo 51 while working with another DNA research team of Maurice Wilkins. He ultimately betrayed her when he showed James Watson and Francis Crick Franklin’s X ray image of DNA structure. Photo 51 enabled Watson, Crick and Wilkins to determine the structure of DNA and they took whole credit to themselves and won Nobel Prize in physiology in 1962. She then start studying on Tobacco mosaic virus and polio virus. She created a foundation of modern virology before passing away in 1958 at the age of just 38. Her contribution was undeniable but unfortunately Her work wasn’t mentioned and appreciated.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1911-1956)
She get into national fame in 1932 when she entered in US women track and fields championship as a sole member of her team. Despite of competing in team events alone she proved her skill by winning five events and the overall championship. She then didn’t look back from achieving more and she won one silver and two gold medals in 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. She then appeared in gold scene in 1934. She was the first woman to play in male PGA tour event. She still holds the record of winning the longest winning streak in golf history by any male and female. Babe and 12 other female golfers formed pro tour in 1951. She played for the last time and wowed whole crowd in 1954. She was died in 1956 due to colon cancer. The associated press named her “ Athlete of the year “ six times and we cannot agree more with it. She paved the way for women in sports and her contribution will always remembered in the golden pages of history.
