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Hey Pandas, In Honor Of Women’s History Month, Who Is Your Favorite Woman From History? (Closed)
On the 8th of March, we were celebrating International Woman's Day. In the US and UK, March is also Women's History Month.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
not one woman, but a group, The Night Witches: An all female bomber squad from Russia during WWII. They flew at night, never used radios, and would shut off their engines during bombing runs and glide over targets, dropping bombs seemingly out of nowhere and the disappear silently into the night. The planes they got were old and left over from WWI. The women would frequently have to do repairs, climbing out of the cockpit to work on the engines mid flight.
Final score:
40points
#2
Hedy Lamarr. Her frequency hopping was pivotal during WWII, and we use it now every day.
Final score:
31points
Leigh Jones 1 year ago
Yh and was dismissed by the 'them' because she was beautiful to look at. Her brilliance, her discoveries in the realms of physics and maths. Her farsighted belief in technology. Her scientific academic precision coupled with her practical skills circuit boarding, fastidious tiny welding to ensure electricity would easily find the next necessary circuit board. Full on builder of the first analogue computer. The First of all the computers can be found in the heads of those trying to defeat terrible corruption and eventually war. And Hedy was accepted by those men as brainy. And they wanted to know what she thought. They couldn't have cared less about her gender - no more than they would a person's sexual preference. I love scientists like that. To me Hedy Lamarr is the embodiment of some who is SO clever they are clever at everything they do.
#3
Malala. She is so amazing in her acts, fighting giving woman the right to education in Pakistan after the Tailaban swept over her country.
Final score:
29points
Freya the Wanderer 1 year ago
I recently read her autobiography, and I highly recommend it. She is a woman of great courage, intelligence, and grit.
#4
Hawa Abdi-
Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Somali gynecologist who routinely stood her ground against militias who wanted to take over her hospital or steal her equipment. She spent 29 years providing a safe harbor for those displaced, creating a 400 bed hospital, and her farm into a refugee camp where 90K Somalis received free food, water, free health care, and a clean place for women to give birth.
https://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/womens-rights/wr-africa/wr-somalia/1039-dr-hawa-abdi-under-siege-in-somalia.html
Final score:
28points
#5
Boudicca - straight up bad a*s who took on the Roman army
Final score:
28points
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
Indeed, she was amazing. I knew her name as Boadicea (the latinized version) from school. For those that don't know the story she was a 1st century Celtic queen, that led an uprising against the Romans in Britannia. Her husband was a king of a Celtic band allied to Rome, however when he died, the Roman legion annexed his people. In a show of force the Romans flogged Boudicca and raped her daughters. This led to the uprising. Boudicca led 120000 Celts against the Romans, and sacked Londinium, killing everyone in the city (take no prisoners). The Roman Procurator of Britannia was so terrified of her he fled the Island to Gaul. Eventually, the Romans were able to regroup, and with 10000 men were able to defeat the Celtic army. Although the Romans were heavily outnumbered, they had superior training, equipment, weapons, as well as the ground they occupied gave them a heavy tactical advantage. She poisoned herself, rather than concede a victory to Rome.
#6
Truganini, such a brave, intelligent Aboriginal woman. She lived a life of tragedy but was instrumental in saving her people under the worst conditions
Final score:
26points
#7
Marie Curie
A Polish scientist who moved to France to earn a degree because Polish universities wouldn't let women study there. She later married Pierre Curie, and together they worked to make many discoveries. She discovered not one but TWO periodic elements-radium and polonium, which she named after Poland. She won not one but TWO Nobel Prizes, she was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first twice, and the only person to win the Nobel Prize in two scientific fields. She was the first female professor at the University of Paris.
Lesson learned, don't underestimate a smart Polish woman (like myself, hopefully I can be as famous as her)
Final score:
26points
#8
Hadassah/Esther
Was thrown into a horrible beauty-pageant/sex contest, but stayed true to herself. Was forced to marry the most powerful man of her time, but used it for her advantage. Faced oppression, segregation and genocide with bravery.
Saved the Jewish race because of her level-headed thinking and courage.
She was one tough gal.
Final score:
23points
#9
Frida Kahlo!
She had quite a difficult life and suffered from a couple disabilities due to scoliosis when she was younger (leaving her with a slightly crooked foot), and spinal injuries from a tram incident when she was 18. She started to paint in hospital after the tram incident and as people know, she turned into an absolute goddess!!
She is such an inspiration for me as a young woman and gives me confidence in not only my artworks, but also myself. Because of her I can now rock my unibrow. It isn’t visible unless you come close to my face and look for it, but it used to be a big insecurity of mine. But I mean, look at Frida!
She’s gorgeous, powerful and as she said; “At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.”
Final score:
20points
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
I love Frida. I lived in Mexico City for many years, and her home there is now a museum. She's still a major hero and point of pride for the Mexican people. Please post your artwork, I'm sure we'd all love to see it. Even a link to a website would be great.
#10
All of the ones whose glory and accomplishments were stolen by men who accepted their honor without proper acknowledgement of said women. And this goes back to all the "witches" hunted and killed by men because women couldn't be at the forefront of science and medicine.
Final score:
20points
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
I often think about the millennia of lost opportunity and potential that we wasted as a species because we felt threatened by "the weaker sex". Where would we be today, had women been allowed to contribute in science, invention, and politics for the whole of our civilization?
#11
It's really hard for me to pick a favorite. But for today, I'm going to go with Manuela Sáenz. Originally from Ecuador, she was a wealthy socialite in Lima, Peru. But she soon became active in women's rights and revolution against Spain. She left her husband in 1822 to become a revolutionary, and collaborator and eventual lover of Simón Bolívar. She rescued him from an assassination attempt in 1828, and he thereafter called her the "Liberator of Liberators". As part of the revolutionary forces she attained the rank of colonel, and earned the Order of Knight of the Sun (hence she is Dame Manuela Sáenz or Doña Manuela Sáenz). Anyways, she was a major badass and a hero in South America.
Happy Women's History Month!
Final score:
19points
#12
Ooohhh. Since I am on the topic of fighting against the evil Iberian occupiers (lol, I love you Spain and Portugal), I also introduce Policarpa Salvarrieta. She was Colombian born seamstress to the Spanish Royal family. This allowed her access to information that she would feed to the revolutionaries in Colombia. She was eventually executed as a spy in 1817 (22 years old), and her last words were as follows: “Although I am a woman and young, I have more than enough courage to suffer this death and a thousand more!”
Final score:
19points
#13
My grandma. She had raised three of her own children, took in her niece as a tiny baby and brought her up as her own child, and took in her other niece and nephew for a good three years, all whilst dealing with an erratic, demanding, often unpleasant husband. She was such a kind, gentle woman, always ready to talk or smile, or whatever you needed that day. She was also a crack shot with a gun, handled finance so meticulously that anyone trying to cheat her soon regretted it, and once smashed the French windows with a garden chair when grandad locked her out. Even when she was bedridden and dying, she still noticed when I had a new dress, and told me I looked lovely. She was brilliant
Final score:
19points
#14
Eleanor Roosevelt. One remarkable First Lady, as well as an activist. She once snuck out of the White House to go on a joyride with Amelia Earhart!
Final score:
17points
#15
Anne of Cleves. She was Henry Vlll's fourth wife, but their marriage was annulled and she lived the rest of her life in England, with the title of 'the King's Sister' Rather safer than being his wife. She outlived Henry and his son Edward, was on good terms with the rest of the royal family, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Final score:
15points
Mrs Spigot 1 year ago
This, I don't know if she was incredibly clever or incredibly lucky or both, but to avoid Henry's wrath AND end up wealthy and independent, not married off to some man for an alliance or sent back to her family at that time was virtually unheard of.
#16
Audrey Hepburn. She has a freaking EGOT.
Final score:
15points
marianne eliza 1 year ago
More importantly, she worked for the resistance in WWII. Her tiny frame was because of malnutrition during the war.
#17
Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India who
saved girls from an Indian temple, where they are being forced to be prostitutes. Amy, a white woman, had to dye her skin with coffee to fit in and sneak into the temple. She never married, as she was too busy helping young girls her whole life.
Final score:
14points
#18
Sor Juana Ines De La Cruz. Seh was the bethoveen from the Novohispanic literaature. She learned how to read at three, write at five and she was composing at eight.
She became a nun to avoid marrying and to dedicate her life to God, and there she wrote an exquisit collection of poems. She also was tested in the royal court with the hardest questions of philosophy, maths, science, etc. And seh answered flawlesly.
She is most known as "the worst of all", since when the chuch forbid her to write, she made a letter and sign it with "I, the wort of all" with her own blood.
There is a video of Ted-Ed talking about her biography.
Final score:
13points
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
Oh yes, she's another big deal in Mexican History, 17th century badass nun. She's buried at the Convent of San Jerónimo (Saint Jerome) in Oaxaca. Oaxaca is one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico, I highly recommend the trip, and the convent is gorgeous.
#19
There are so many women that saw a need and invented it. Women invented WiFi, circular saws, submarine telescopes, monopoly, street sweepers, rocket fuel, dishwashers, ice cream makers, home security systems, et al. So I guess it boils down to ::: Women that can do serious math equations:::: Some inventions before women were encouraged to read. These days I admire Serena Williams, think Drew Barrymore is adorable and wish Kamala Harris was more visible.
Final score:
13points
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago (edited)
Hey, the biggest advancement in genetics ever CRISPR–Cas9 was created by two women: Emmanuelle Charpentier (France) and Jennifer Doudna (USA).
#20
My mum!
She had the courage to leave my alcoholic father when I was 10. She single handedly raised me and my sister whilst working two jobs. She accepted me when I came out to me and is basically a second mum to my boyfriend. She gives the best advice and hugs.
Love you Mum
Final score:
13points
#21
Can I say my Mom? Or a celebrity or something? Or like Rosa Parks from actual history?
Final score:
11points
#22
Any woman who has stood up to abuse and gotten themselves out from under their abuser whether alone or by asking for help. You ladies are brave and have, more and more, opened the conversation and doors for others to get the courage to leave.
(I firmly believe, and have seen men in abusive situations too so same goes but, this is about women.)
Final score:
11points
#23
St. Olha of Kyiv and any woman fighting for Ukraine. St. Olha was regent for the Kyivan Rus' after he husband was murdered by the Drevlians while her son was still young. She got revenge on the Drevlians, and raised her son well. She eventually helped to Christianize the Rus', which her grandson Volodymyr the Great finished around 19 years after she died. Constantine VII described her as "worthy to reign with him", and wanted her to be his queen. She made him her godfather so they couldn't marry, which would be spiritual incest. She also made one of the first legal tax reform in Eastern Europe.
Final score:
10points
Roadkill The Brave 1 year ago
Yes, she did a lot of stuff after the whole revenge thing - but how she got her revenge on them is just epic.
#24
One of my favorite historical women is Lydia Darragh, who was a Quaker who moved to Philadelphia from Ireland with her family in the mid 1700s.
She was a midwife, as well as attending to the deceased.
When British troops occupied Philadelphia, they used the Darragh’s house to conduct meetings, which the family spied on using an ingenious method: Lydia would eavesdrop, and whenever she heard anything important, her husband, William, would write it down using shorthand. She would then hide the news inside of several large buttons, which she sewed onto her younger son’s jacket. He would proceed to deliver the data to her older son, who served in the Army at Washington’s camp.
On December 2nd, 1777, Lydia heard that the British troops were going to attack American troops at a nearby town in three days, so she devised a plan: she managed to obtain a pass to go through British lines, claiming that her family needed flour. When she arrived at the mill, she found an American scout, passed on the news (which was hidden in a piece of needlework), took her flour, and returned home.
After the battle (which the British troops lost), an officer interrogated her, but he didn’t ask the right questions, so she didn’t need to lie. Eventually, the local Society of Friends expelled Lydia, her husband, and their older son for being “too martial.” She lived until 1789.
Final score:
9points
#25
Nurses at warzones who paved modern Hippocratic medicine.
As a one instance - but I know there are many
Florence Nightingale who ensured that statistics in medicine must underpin medical progression. Who died? Why? When? How long from treatment? She maintained that 24 hour care is imperative. And record keeping must be made mandatory and accessible to all.
Nightingale ensured that public health and welfare remained a constant debate in the parliament of the day.
Nutrition, sanitation, and access to liveable housing were essential to her mandate for public health and social care. Yet she remains celebrated figure in nursing, and remains a person, despite her remarkable achievements in the field of progressions in public health and social care, as 'a nurse'.
Like a 'nurse' is a second class in the field of medicine! Exasperating.
Final score:
9points
Agnes Jekyll 1 year ago
Mary Seacole! Almost no one knows about her, and she went penniless building a hospital to care for wounded soldiers.
#26
Harriet Tubman
Born into slavery and escaped. Went back to get more people. Escaped. Went back to get more people. Escaped. Repeat until the U.S. civil war. Decided best way to end slavery was for the union to win. Joined the union as a scout and nurse. She wasn't given nearly enough for her work and was thrown into poverty. And you know what she did then? She helped others. She was awesome and deserves so much respect.
Final score:
9points
Hyde and Seek 1 year ago
She also suffered from narcolepsy,knocked out her own infected tooth, carried a loaded pistol at all times,broke into a courthouse (and out again) ,and suffered severe head trauma. She was a badass & a half
#27
Just add a personal one here...
My nan, raised dirt poor in the north of England, bugger all education but became a nurse and in the 20s and early 30s, worked in a repat home for WW1 vets whose injuries were so horrific they could never return home ( a lot were declared dead, as it was better for their families.) All the other nurses treated her like dirt cause she was working class, but the patients loved her.... She used to bring my mum and auntie, when they were young, to play in the grounds so the patients could sit on the balcony and watch them play.... Just to give them a trace of the family life they could never experience.... She will always be my absolute hero, though I barely remember her.....
Final score:
9points
#28
Queen Elizabeth the Second- an icon, role model and all round wonderful woman
Christina Rosetti- wrote brilliant poetry, remained unmarried and was generally just an icon before the term 'feminist' was even invented
Final score:
8points
Gwyneth Jones 1 year ago
Christina Rosetti's Goblin Market was one of the first and VERY conroversial female empowerment poems written.
#29
Tie between Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie. I love big brains.
Final score:
8points
#30
Rosalind Franklin who discovered the helical structure of DNA before Crick and Watson - who used her research without acknowledgement and went on to get a Nobel for the discovery. She died of cancer in 1958. So many women scientists have been robbed this way: Ada Lovelace (mathematician - programming pioneer), Lise Meitner (physicist - nuclear fission), Marthe Gautier (medical researcher - Downs Syndrome), Jean Purdy (embryologist - IVF pioneer) are just a few of hundreds or even thousands denied their due credit. Time to rewrite the history books!
Final score:
8points
#31
The First Women to Cross the US on Solo Motorcycles. Sisters Augusta and Adeline Van Buren, descendants of Martin Van Buren, the eighth US president, crossed the United States on motorcycles in 1916, riding 5,500 miles in 60 days on hazardous roads.
Final score:
7points
Freya the Wanderer 1 year ago
They kept getting arrested because they were wearing pants. Pants! OK, dudes, YOU try riding a motorcycle in a friggin' skirt!
#33
Julie D'Aubigny, also known as La Maupin, was a 17th-century bisexual French opera singer and fencing master who killed or wounded at least ten men in life-or-death duels, performed nightly shows on the biggest and most highly-respected opera stage in the world in Paris, and once took the Holy Orders just so that she could sneak into a convent and bang a nun.
She died in 1707 of unknown causes at the age of 37.
Final score:
6points
#34
It’s sooooo hard to choose. I look up to a lot of women in history. But since Alice Paul hasn’t been mentioned yet, I’ll say her. She was a suffragist who pushed for the 19th Amendment by starting her own party(the National Women’s Party) and picketing the White House, deliberately calling out the President on his hypocrisy. She was imprisoned for this, and while in prison, she went on a hunger strike to continue to fight for her cause. She also suffered horrible torture from the prison guards. And she chose to go through(almost)all of this because she didn’t think of herself as more important than any other suffragette. When the first picketers were arrested, she was told not to picket and stay safe. She was out on the line the next day. If it weren’t for her, women wouldn’t have the right to vote in America, and she helped England’s women win their vote too.
Final score:
6points
#35
Gilda Radner
Amazing range, including characters Candy Slice, Emily Litella, Roseanne Rosseannadanna, Lisa Loopner, and Judy Miller.
Sang and danced on a one woman broadway show, acted in movies, and is now a figurehead in the fight against and screening for certain women’s cancers
Final score:
5points
#36
Queen Victoria. She refused to become Queen unless the law changed, because as it stood, on her marriage, her husband would have become a king and more powerful than her. Her insistence is why Philip was only ever a Prince and Albert was only ever a Prince. When she married, she found out that she absolutely loved getting jiggy so, when she was consulted about homosexuality laws, she could understand why somebody would be desperate for a bit of peen but thought that allowing men to have relationships with men, would mean denying a woman of the joys of the marriage bed. She's also the reason why lesbianism was never made illegal across the empire - she didn't believe that any woman would be happy to live her life without lots of passionate man times! She was also wider than she was tall at the time of her death. She sounds great tbh!
Final score:
5points
#37
I don’t know if someone already said this but mine is Mae Jameson. She was the first black women in space and one of the few women who have gone to space. I have always been a fan of astronomy, and she has always been a role model for me. Her and Sally Ride have inspired me to follow my scientific passions.
Final score:
5points
#38
Sister Rosetta Tharpe the Mother of Rock n Roll. She started back in the 30s.
Final score:
5points
#39
Anne McCaffrey. She was first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction and the first to win a Nebula Award.
Final score:
5points
#40
I would have to say Frances Glessner Lee. She built tiny models on a scale from one inch to one foot to train homicide detectives. She was 65 when she did this. Each little model depicts a death scene. She used them in a seminar she taught at Harvard University in a department that she created. This is during the 1930s and 1940s. She became quite respected in that community. These models are incredibly detailed, and each one took her a year or more to build. She is incredible and really shaped the way we investigate sudden death today.
Final score:
4points
jolie laide 1 year ago
Yes! I'm so glad I decided to thoroughly read through all of the entries before posting mine, because Frances is my #1 too!
#41
ok I have a lot but here are a few
my mom will always be number one for me.
Harriet tubman, what an amazing woman.
Sacagawea, she was such an incredible powerful; woman.
and simone biles, she is such an inspiration to me!!
Final score:
4points
#42
Dr. Frances Kelsey, who stood up to immense pressure by her peers at the FDA and in the pharmaceutical industry, and single-handedly prevented approval of thalidomide in the US.
Final score:
4points
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
Reminds me of Dr Claire Patterson. She was instrumental in the fight to ban leaded gasoline. She had to fight Dupont for years and was ridiculed in the press. She saved millions of lives.
#43
Marie Curie. She discovered 2 elements, got awarded two Nobel prizes! As a young girl, she was the first woman of her school to graduate. She is a very inspiring woman to us all. ❤🧫🧪⚗️🔬
Final score:
4points
#44
Alice Williams Jones Native American (Caddo) in the 1930s to 1950s she lobied Congress figjting for Native right to vote and Native water rights. My grandmother, tall beautiful, educated. First generation to speak english, daugther if Peyoteman Peter Williams and granddaughter of Caddo George Washington chief of the Caddo tribe who negotiated treaties on behalf of Commanche, Apaphe, Kiowa , Wichita, Delaware tribes, raised horses fir Chisholm to be used on the Chisholm trail. Alice had a college degree and was an accompliced violist and pianist.
Final score:
4points
#45
Bertha Benz, 1849-1944
She took her dowry to support her fiancé financially while he concentrated on his invention - the 'horseless carriage' or 'car'. Later, in 1888, when everyone doubted the new invention, she secretly took her two boys, 'stole' the car and drove 88 km (55 miles) to her mother's. The car broke down a few times, but she fixed it with her garter and her hatpin. She had to buy 'fuel' from a pharmacy and overall drew a lot of public attention. But she successfully completed her journey and proved her husband's invention to be suitable for everyday use. She shared her observations with him and helped to improve some parts (f. e. she suggested padding the brakes with leather and so invented the brake pads). She was a very fascinating and fearless woman and she was way ahead of her time. :)
Final score:
4points
Rizzo (Submission author) 1 year ago
I got the distance wrong. She drove 105 km (65 miles). Mea culpa! ;)
#46
Anne Frank. Her diary is imo one of the most important books from ww2.
Final score:
4points
#47
My mother!
Final score:
3points
#48
Someone mentioned my #1 woman, so my #2 is Jeanne Villepreux-Power!
She was French (1794 - 1871) and is considered the "Mother of Aquariophily". Basically she invented the concept of aquariums in order to better study marine biology. She was a cephalopod researcher mostly, and discovered that one particular species did indeed grow/produce its own shell instead of just finding them. She did all this while living in Italy.
She was also the one who created the wedding dress for Princess Caroline back in 1816 I think it was. So she was already a killer seamstress/creator, but also later became an author and conservationist too!
I stumbled onto her totally by accident, when I was looking into restarting my own aquarium hobby and her name was mentioned in an article, so I looked her up. Glad I did!
Final score:
3points
#49
Grace O’Malley is hands down one of my all time favorite kick butt women in history. She gave the English rule a run for their money and was a true example of how perspective can change an individual from hero to pest. If you don’t know this phenomenal woman please look her up.
Final score:
3points
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
I was introduced to her via a Neal Stephenson book. The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. about time travel, quantum physics, and witches. It was cowritten by Nicole Galland. One of her spies is an Irish witch and prostitute, and her chapters are always written as letters to Grace O'Malley. This of course fed my curiosity, so ended up reading a biography, and she was indeed an absolutely fascination woman.
#50
Rani Lakshmi Bai.(this all happened in India btw) According to a policy the British who at the time ruled India made only biological heirs could become king and if they didn't have one the kingdom would come under British rule. She had a adopted son and when he was refused to be king. She revolted against the British. The best part was that she and her troops fought British soldiers who were almost more than twice the number of troops she had. But unfortunately, because of some traitors she died fighting on a horse with her son on her back.
Final score:
3points
#51
Actually a group of incredible women, they were called the Mercury 13. They took the same astronaut tests as the Mercury 7 (beginning American Moon missions), and scored drastically higher than the men. On EVERYTHING. Their temperament, physical fitness, credentials, emotional regulation, flight capabilities, EVERYTHING. For example, there was a free fall simulator tests, and the men had to be carried out of the room on stretchers vomiting and dizzy after 20 seconds, and the women were asked to exit the machine after half an hour because they were enjoying themselves and having fun. The women's average flight hours were over 1000 more than the men.
And despite all of this they were varied from space. NASA's defense was that the women couldn't fulfill all the requirements they had for the astronaut program, but the only requirement that was an issues was having an engineering degree: something nationwide universities refused to allow women to earn. NASA knew this. Their defense was that 'oh well, you're not qualified so you can't, that's so sad', but John Glenn also didn't have that degree and NASA justified that as him having work experience that made up for it, but wouldn't allow that same work around for the women despite their longer and higher quality resumes.
These women, despite not getting to live their dream themselves, are the main reason women like Sally Ride we able to go up over 20 years after the first lunar landing. They ceaselessly campaigned to get women in space and force NASA to remove/change their astronaut requirements. They are the reason the USA has sent up any women in their space program.
Only one of those women made it to space. Her name is Wally Funk, and she became the oldest person to go to space when Blue Origin took her up a few summers ago.
Final score:
3points
#52
Loretta Mary Aiken (March 19, 1894 – May 23, 1975) Ms. Aiken may well claim the title of not only America's first Black, Female, Stand up Comic, but America's first stand up comic. She became a star as a comic in vaudeville and continued to tour all her life. She came out as openly gay in 1921 and in In April 1939, she became the first female comic to perform at the Apollo theater in Harlem. She made her national debut in 1962 when she played Carniege Hall and was a frequent guest on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. In 1975 she became the oldest person to have a top 40 hit with her rendition of the ballad of Abraham Martin and John; a record she still holds today. She was an important influence on many white and black performers. If you're not familiar with Loretta Mary Aiken you might know her better as her stage name Jackie "Moms" Mabley. It may be hard to see a small, bedraggled, toothless elderly, black woman as a world beater, but that's what she was.
Final score:
3points
#53
Jeri Ryan.
She went through absolute horror with a starring role on a tv show, a public divorce where all her dirty laundry was aired, all while working a second job in a restaurant, attending culinary school, and being a single mom. She came out the other side still able to smile. She’s an inspiration to all humans who struggle.
Final score:
2points
#54
Lady Godiva
Final score:
2points
Kenneth Winschuh (Submission author) 1 year ago
In the eleventh century, Lady Godiva reportedly rode a horse completely naked through the streets of Coventry on Market Day. According to legend, her husband, Leofric, demanded an oppressive tax from Coventry citizens. Lady Godiva, aiming to help the citizens, pleaded for him to stop. Leofric supposedly said, “You will have to ride naked through Coventry before I change my ways.” Before beginning this quest to help Coventry, Godiva told everyone to stay in their homes to preserve her modesty. She then rode through the streets, her long hair draped so that it covered almost her whole body, allowing only her legs and eyes to remain visible. However, one man, now known as Peeping Tom, disobeyed her instructions and couldn’t help looking out at Godiva riding through Coventry on the horse. Upon doing so, the legend goes, he was instantly blinded. Lady Godiva is a legitimate historical figure, born in 990 A.D. It is unknown when she died, although it was assumed to be between 1066 and 108
#55
Sister Rosetta Tharpe the Mother of Rock n Roll. She started back in the 30s.
Final score:
2points
#56
Milunka Savić. WW1 most decorated female soldier.
Final score:
2points
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
Not just WWI, she started her military career in the Balkan Wars. She's the most decorated female soldier in history. Should add she was Serbian.
#57
Personally, I think all women should be appreciated for what they do and if you ask me, there are so many women out there who are icons and inspiration to all.
But if I were to name one badass woman out there, I'd say Martha Jane Cannary aka Calamity Jane. I'll admit that I'm guilty of preferring the fictional representation of her (Google The Legend of Calamity Jane) but when I read about her real life exploits, she became THE woman in my eyes, fictional or otherwise.
Oh, and did I mention her fictional portrayal could literally whip your behind XP
Final score:
2points
SheamusFanFrom1987 (Submission author) 1 year ago
Also, imagine how badass you could be as a woman to be given the everlasting sobriquet 'Calamity'? I can only wish I had one like her as well.
#58
Not one woman, rather women.
All the women who played a crucial role and lead the way during India's freedom revolution.
Final score:
2points
#59
Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793). She was a French activist who wrote the "Declaration of the Rights of Women and Female Citizens".
Her most famous statement was "A Woman has the right to mount the scaffold. She must equally posses the right to mount the speaker's Platform"
She died under the guillotine for being a royalist.
Final score:
2points
#60
Winnie Mandela. Former wife of Nelson. Met her once. Fought for the rights of african people against the disgusting nazi apartheid system. https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/winnie-madikizela-mandela
Final score:
2points
#61
Elizabeth the Great. She lived through 15 US presidents meeting 14. Also had 15 Prime ministers including Winston Churchill. None acrandon historical figure and she Lickey met him/her.
Final score:
1point
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
I think you got down voted because Elizabeth is already on here. But here's an up vote from me
#62
Dylan Mulvaney
Final score:
1point
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
Had to look her up. She's an American actress and transgender activist.
#63
Dr. Ruth. A seriously fascinating lady with an amazing life and a great sense of humour.
Final score:
1point
#65
my 5th grade teacher, mrs. dell. she was tough, honest, caring and just plain wonderful.
Final score:
1point
#66
Ellen G. White, prophet of the last days.
Final score:
0points
RafCo (he/him/ele) 1 year ago
Not a believer myself, but I'd say co-founding the Seventh Day Adventist Church is certainly one for the history books. Unfortunately that's all I know about her. I guess I'll have to do some reading.
#67
Boudicca - Celtic Rebel Queen of the Iceni (modern day Norfolk) fought to the Roman invasion of Britain in 61 CE and massacred some 70,000 Romans.
She led the Iceni and other Celtic tribes in an army reported to be 230,000 strong in a revolt against Roman rule and tyranny. Although her forces crushed Colchester and what is now London - she and her supporters they were ultimately defeated.
How did it all start? After the death of her husband the king, the imperial Roman procurator Decianus Catus seized all of his estate with the permission of Nero. When Boudica arguged against this, she was flogged and her young daughters were gang raped in front of her. She waited until he was out of town then Boudica raised an army with neighboring tribes and led a rebellion against the Romans which, after initial success, was ultimately crushed at the Battle of Watling Street.
Final score:
0points
#68
One person from history who has long impressed me is Queen Elizabeth II for devoting her life to being monarch of England and other Commonwealth countries. She was extremely principled and an inspiration of such to millions.
( And for those who would criticize her for being a product of colonialism, it would be hard to argue that she was not a force for good in this world.)
Final score:
0points
#70
Frances Perkins. She was Franklin Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor and one of the key architects of the New Deal. First ever woman in the Cabinet and still holds the record for the longest serving in any Cabinet. Not only that, she was the First Secretary of Labor ever and is considered the very best of all Labor Secretarys.
Fun Fact. She and Elaine Chao, who is considered the worst Labor Secretary ever, went to the same college.
Final score:
0points
#71
This may be too many, but I love history so I have 5.
Jeanette Rankins-the first woman in the US congress and the only person in congress to vote against joining ww1 & ww2. She was first elected at a time where women could not vote.
Lavinia fontana- a Renaissance painter to rival da Vinci, her husband was also a painter but quit because she was better. She was sponsored by the pope at one point.
Lillian Gilbreth- one of America's woman of the year in the mid 1940s, she pioneered a lot of time saving engineering techniques and made a name for herself as an engineer when women were unwelcome in the STEM field. A lot of conveniences in kitchen design are attributed to her. Also she had 12 kids.
Eleanor Roosevelt- she's pretty well known, her husband was sick for a lot of his later terms as president, so she took over a lot of president work, though it is all still credited to him so we dont know how much exactly. Arguably one of the most politically active first ladies.
A family member of mine, Katheryn helzer- lived in Russia when the soviet union took over, but had lots of German ancestry. Lenin decided he wanted all the German Russians gone. Her family could only afford one ticket, so she left for Oregon in the US at age 19, and the rest of her family's fate is unknown. At a time where immigrants in the US were discouraged from bringing their past with them, she still told her story and talked about her family which is tremendously important to my family now.
Final score:
0points
#72
Ru Paul,….oh wait !
Final score:
-1point
Monica Lopez King (Moni) 1 year ago
I love his new show Lingo. She was amazing and very fierce in Ru Pauls drag race. Love her love him
What do you think ?
Agnes Jekyll 1 year ago
Jane Goodall, Dr. Anne Innis Dagg, Alanis Obomsawin; Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Olive Dickason, Harriet A. Jacobs, Daisy Peterson Sweeney--they all have taken action to make the world a better place. Thank you, thank you. A million times, thank you.
Agnes Jekyll 1 year ago
Jane Goodall, Dr. Anne Innis Dagg, Alanis Obomsawin; Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Olive Dickason, Harriet A. Jacobs, Daisy Peterson Sweeney--they all have taken action to make the world a better place. Thank you, thank you. A million times, thank you.
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