
Famous Women In American History – Each article on this page has been selected by a woman’s day editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to purchase.
Women are quite extraordinary. It’s a story as old as time – even when women’s place in society has been banned, mocked, challenged and questioned as the norm. For centuries, women around the world have been making strides towards a world that is more equitable; they have been the brains behind incredible advances in science, medicine, mathematics, literature and the like, influencing not only women but men as well. That’s why, as we prepare for Women’s History Month (and International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8), we’re here to pay tribute to 15 famous women, celebrating who they were (and are). After all, as fascinating as it is to reinforce the facts of Women’s History Month, it is even more eye-opening to learn about the women in history who have greatly affected society over the years.
Famous Women In American History
If you didn’t think that women played a huge role in where we are today, consider this: The founder of modern nursing was a woman. The scientist who discovered radio and who contributed monumentally to finding cures for cancer was a woman. The editor of the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal (AKA two of the biggest news stories of the 20th century) was a woman. Needless to say, women have helped shape society and the world as we know it. Keep reading to learn more ways they have.
Important Women In American History You May Not Have Heard Of
“The person, whether gentleman or lady, who takes no pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
Jane Austen is best known for her literary genius, in which she depicts the lives of ordinary people. He wrote six completed novels, including the very popular ones
, which have since been adapted into movies and shows. It practically set the bar for rom-com novels (or what many now call Chick Lit).
Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician credited with being the world’s first computer programmer. To this day, every second Tuesday in October is celebrated as Ada Lovelace Day by women in STEM.
Badass Latin American Women Who Made History
“If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down, these women together should be able to turn it right again.”
Considered one of the most influential black women in American history, Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist, author and advocate for women’s rights. But first, he was just a child who was separated from his family and sold into slavery. After fleeing in 1929 with a child in tow while being forced to leave her other two children behind, she used her freedom to be a voice for the voiceless. Her Ohio Woman’s Rights Convention speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” — which she gave in Akron in 1851 — is still celebrated as a turning point for feminism today.
Florence Nightingale is the founder of modern nursing. After tirelessly tending to the wounded during the Crimean War – becoming known as the “Lady with the Lamp” in the process – Florence established the Nightingale School of Nursing in London in 1860.
Marie Curie was a Polish scientist who discovered polonium and radium, and coined the term radioactivity. She was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize (which she won for her research into “radiation phenomena” in 1903). He won another in 1911 for his radio isolation. But that’s not all. Following her findings, Marie developed a portable X-Ray machine.
International Women’s Day: Amazing Women Who Have Changed The World
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is just tenacity. Fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process it is his own reward.”
Amelia Earhart was an American aviator known for being the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. She later became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California. Unfortunately, in an attempt to be the first woman to fly around the world in 1937, Amelia disappeared, never to be found. She was eventually declared dead in 1939.
Anne Frank is a symbol of the Holocaust, famous for her diary, in which she told what it was like to live in hiding in Amsterdam occupied by the Nazis. Despite the horrors she recounted and endured, Anne believed in the good of the people. His diary, which was turned into a book known as
Eleanor Roosevelt may have been the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but she is known for much more than that. Before, during, and after her stint as the longest-serving First Lady, Eleanor established herself as an activist, diplomat, and humanitarian—advocating for civil rights and women’s rights—and an eventual spokeswoman at the United Nations .
Remarkable Women Who Changed The World
When you hear about the Pentagon Papers or the latest Watergate scandal news, you probably think about the authors who wrote them. If you go beyond that, though, you’ll find the editor who approved it for print: Katharine Graham, the 20th century’s first female editor of a major American newspaper. In short, she was a female pioneer in the publishing and media world.
“I have learned over the years that when the mind is made up, it reduces fear; knowing what needs to be done eliminates fear.”
Rosa Parks is famous for being the catalyst of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1955, Rose refused to give up her front seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, for which she was jailed and fined. The experience led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott and countless other Civil Rights protests, and cemented Rosa as a symbol of dignity and strength in the midst of racial segregation.

, became a beacon of hope for abuse survivors, as well as the first non-fiction bestseller by an African-American woman.
Lesbian Erasure: A Footnote To Women’s History Month
“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a women’s rights activist, not to mention the second female justice of the United States Supreme Court. As a pioneer of gender equality, RBG co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU, which “empowers women, women of color, and immigrant women who have been subject to gender bias and who affronted pervasive barriers to equality”.
“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”
Gloria Steinem is revered as one of the most passionate leaders of the women’s liberation movement. For decades, Gloria toured the country, leading marches and speaking to the masses about the importance of gender equality. In 2013, Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.
Our Famous Women
Many people know Dolly Parton as an iconic country music star with a style (and silhouette) that’s hard to miss. In reality, Dolly is one of the most notable celebrity philanthropists of our time. She created the Imagination Library, a program that gives free age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, in 1995 to instill a love of reading and imagination in and generations to come. He has donated nearly 2 million books to date. She also donates to science. In 2020, he donated $1 million for the research behind Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.
“When we start to act, hope is everywhere. So instead of looking for hope, look for action. Then, and only then, will hope come.”
Greta Thunberg may only be 20 years old, but she’s making history as we speak. The young woman is a well-respected environmental activist who works to ensure that the next generation is well equipped for the climate fight. In 2018, he founded Fridays for Future (AKA School Strike for Climate), a youth-led climate strike movement that aims to keep the world informed.
Rebecca Ravee Norris is a full-time freelance writer with a decade of experience in lifestyle media. Based out of the Washington metropolitan area, she writes for a variety of publications, covering everything from beauty and wellness to style and celebrity news. He is a graduate of George Mason University. There, he earned his B.A. in Media: Production, Consumption and Criticism, with a minor in Electronic Journalism. When she’s not working, she can be found with her beloved Jack-Chi, Cash, adventuring with family and friends, working through reps at the gym, dreaming up her next home decor project, trying out a new recipe. , getting lost in the pages of a book, or catching up on your favorite shows.
Amazon.com: Famous Women Of The American Revolution (building America’s Democracy): 9780823962761: Thornton, Jeremy
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