International Women's Day has been around since the 1900s. For several years, beginning in 1909, the day was celebrated on the last Sunday in [kwlink 1754]February[/kwlink]. This later changed to March 8th, which is the same date that women were given [kwlink 183]the right to vote[/kwlink] in Russia. This is a time for us to look at ways of improving the global concerns of women, as well as looking back and ing decades of women [kwlink 3763]struggling for equality[/kwlink], justice, peace and change. Here are just a few women who have aided that cause:
Elizabeth Blackwell (1821 - 1910) :: Woman in Science 3z466
Elizabeth applied to 29 medical schools before she was finally accepted to one in New York. She graduated at the top of her class and became the first female doctor in America. Unfortunately, her career had an early setback when, while treating an infant, she contracted an infection. As a result, she lost [kwlink]an eye[/kwlink]. Her career was not over though. She opened her own hospital and charged her patients very little or nothing at all.
Marie Curie (1867 - 1934) :: Woman in Science 444a4i
Marie Curie is one of the first female scientists to have worldwide fame and is the most famous woman in radioactive element.
Dian Fossey (1932 - 1985) :: Woman in Science 1h2841
After a trip to poachers she opposed.
Dian Fossey in the mountains of RwandaCourtesy of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Elsie MacGill (1905 - 1980) :: Woman in Science 6p6v3f
Dr. Elsie MacGill was the first woman in North America to get a degree in aeronautical engineering. During World War II, she was responsible for production of the Hawker Hurricane fighter plane which she adapted for flying in design an aircraft.
Joan Ganz Cooney (1929 - present) :: Woman in the Arts 1z4li
Without this woman, kids around the world would never have known Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch or Elmo. She's the driving force behind Sesame Street, as well as the network it aired on, The Children's Television Workshop.
George Sand (1804 - 1876) :: Woman in the Arts 603al
George Sand was the pen name of Romantic writer Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin. She was also sometimes known as Baronne Dudevant. By Romantic, we don't mean Harlequin irregular life (she dressed as a man) and many love affairs shocked Parisian society.
Simone de Beauvoir (1908 - 1986) :: Woman in the Arts 1p3t1g
Talk about violence against women.
Georgia O'Keeffe (1887 - 1986) :: Woman in the Arts 6qe10
As hard as it is to break out as an artist today, imagine what it was like for young women a hundred years ago! Georgia O'Keeffe proved it was possible for women to succeed as artists and be recognized for their work. Georgia even continued to paint after she lost her sight at the age of 84. She received the Medal of Freedom from the US government in 1977 and the National Medal of Arts in 1985.
- For more women who made a difference in history, click here.
