Women in history are often associated closely with earning the vote, but they have done far far more than just that over the course of thousands of years.
Take these ladies for example; all leaders in their respective fields, they also had to fight against the male dominated era in which they lived. From doctors, to war heroes to civil rights activists, these women have shaped the world we live in… and all while giving zero fucks.
You heard. They didn’t give a shit about female stereotypes and convention and just got on with their business.
1. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)
An English-born physician, Elizabeth was the the first female MD in the United States. Rejected by medical schools because of her gender, she ended up getting a place at the Geneva Medical College in New York. Basically, she dealt with a load of misogynistic dickheads, including a professor who thought she needed to leave the class during certain parts of anatomy teaching. Turns out she was a pretty good doctor anyway. Good on you Lizzy.
2. Annie Smith Peck (1850-1935)
A mountaineer, Peck scaled all the major mountains of Europe, then went to South America, where in 1908 she was the first person to scale Peru’s highest peak, Mt Huscaran, gaining international acclaim. Women are only good for cooking you say? She also went on to write loads of books and kept on climbing until she was 82. She also rejected the long skirt of the period. Annie loved sticking two fingers up to the man.
3. Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981)
A pianist prodigy and jazz composer extraordinaire, Mary Lou Williams was a massive influence on the “Kansas City swing” big band jazz and bebop. A total baller, Mary Lou was a woman years ahead of her time.
4. Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
Women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth had some serious banter. Check her exchange with young suffragist Harriot Stanton Blatch.
Harriot Stanton Blatch: “Sojourner, can’t you read?”
Sojourner Truth: “Oh no, honey, I can’t read little things like letters. I read big things like men.”
BOOM.
5. Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)
A top drawer mathematician, Ada Lovelace was considered to have written the first computer program. She also worked with Charles Babbage on his plans for a sort of proto-computer, the “analytic engine”. A powerful woman in her day, she did not give a single solitary fuck about anything other than maths.
6. Beatrice Potter Webb (1858-1943)
A social reformer, economist and historian, Beatrice Potter Webb campaigned with her husband to help the poor. In her time she helped work towards the first minimum wage laws, developed the early Labour party in Britain, all while writing hundreds of books. What a woman.
7. Lilian Bland (1878-1971)
An author and aviator, Lilian was a total badass. She built her own plane in Ireland; but as it had no engine she had to fashion one from a whisky bottle and her aunt’s ear trumpet. Serious skills. It went 30 yards, which was great for the time. Her hobbies showed how cool she was; she was into smoking, martial arts, wearing trousers, motor cars and swearing. She sounds like my kind of lady.
8. Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991)
A formidable investigative journalist, Ethel covered the American Civil Rights Movement and international affairs. An enemy of President Eisenhowever after she persistently questioned him on the same topic, she was a woman to be feared. The first female African-American commentator on a national network when she was hired by CBS in the 1970s, she was complained about because of her style. Thankfully she didn’t give a fuck.
9. Murasaki Shikibu (973-1025 ish)
Japanese lady in waiting Murasaki is believed to be the writer of the first novel in human history, The Tale of Genji. Her father praised her intelligence, but lamented that she was born a woman. In an act of defiance, she learned Chinese by eavesdropping on her brother’s lessons (women were not allowed to learn Chinese). What a legend.
10. Nellie Bly (1864-1922)
A groundbreaking journalist, Nellie wrote stories on political corruption and poverty. She once faked madness in order to report on a dodgy mental institution. While jealous peers claimed she was “stunt reporting”, Nellie carried on without giving a single fuck. Oh yeah, and she travelled around the world in a record-breaking 72 days just because she fancied it.
11. Nzinga Mbandi (1583-1663)
The former Queen of what is now Angola, Nzinga was no ordinary monarch. She was a master of diplomacy, military tactics, warfare, espionage, trade, alliance-building, and religious matters, all of which made her a stone cold threat. Literally a Queen, Nzinga is one of history’s most capable and badass women.
12. Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000)
Film star and inventor (I know), Hedy Lamarr was a good looking dame too. Let’s be honest, she had it all. She invented “frequency hopping” technology, which was used secret communications and WWII submarines. An all round achiever, it’s no surprise that Hedy was a class act.
13. Tomyris (6th Century BC)
Tomyris was a queen of the Massagetae, an Iranian people of Central Asia east of the Caspian Sea. She is famous for defeating and killing the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great during his invasion of her lands. A total power woman, Tomyris took Cyrus’ head and kept it with her at all times. She even drank wine out of it! A woman who didn’t give a single fuck about any man.
14. Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
One of the most famous human rights activists ever, Rosa Parks is famous for refusing to give up her seat for a white person in 1955. This sparked the movement that brought Martin Luther King to fame. After she died, her casket was taken, aboard a bus similar to the one in which she made her protest, to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. She was the first woman to receive this honour. Bravo Rosa, we salute you.
15. Joan of Arc (1412-1431)
A national heroine of France, Joan is a pretty big deal. A war hero during the Hundred Years’ War, Joan was tried and executed for heresy when she was only 19 years old. However this was later declared invalid by the Pope and she was declared innocent and a martyr 24 years later. Now a saint, Joan is one of history’s most talked about women. Quite right too, as our Joan was an absolute hero.
While young girls these days look up to the likes of Beyonce and Rihanna – they should read more about the fascinating lives of these leading ladies. If you’re looking for a real female role model, then start here. Speaking of role models, these women who sold their virginity might best be avoided. Inspired to emulate the heady heights of Rosa Parks or Hedy Lamarr? Let us know.
via www.viralthread.com
15 Historical Women Who Didn’t Give A Single Solitary F*ck
Women in history are often associated closely with earning the vote, but they have done far far more than just that over the course of thousands of years.
Take these ladies for example; all leaders in their respective fields, they also had to fight against the male dominated era in which they lived. From doctors, to war heroes to civil rights activists, these women have shaped the world we live in… and all while giving zero fucks.
You heard. They didn’t give a shit about female stereotypes and convention and just got on with their business.
1. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910)
An English-born physician, Elizabeth was the the first female MD in the United States. Rejected by medical schools because of her gender, she ended up getting a place at the Geneva Medical College in New York. Basically, she dealt with a load of misogynistic dickheads, including a professor who thought she needed to leave the class during certain parts of anatomy teaching. Turns out she was a pretty good doctor anyway. Good on you Lizzy.
2. Annie Smith Peck (1850-1935)
A mountaineer, Peck scaled all the major mountains of Europe, then went to South America, where in 1908 she was the first person to scale Peru’s highest peak, Mt Huscaran, gaining international acclaim. Women are only good for cooking you say? She also went on to write loads of books and kept on climbing until she was 82. She also rejected the long skirt of the period. Annie loved sticking two fingers up to the man.
3. Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981)
A pianist prodigy and jazz composer extraordinaire, Mary Lou Williams was a massive influence on the “Kansas City swing” big band jazz and bebop. A total baller, Mary Lou was a woman years ahead of her time.
4. Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
Women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth had some serious banter. Check her exchange with young suffragist Harriot Stanton Blatch.
Harriot Stanton Blatch: “Sojourner, can’t you read?”
Sojourner Truth: “Oh no, honey, I can’t read little things like letters. I read big things like men.”
BOOM.
5. Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)
A top drawer mathematician, Ada Lovelace was considered to have written the first computer program. She also worked with Charles Babbage on his plans for a sort of proto-computer, the “analytic engine”. A powerful woman in her day, she did not give a single solitary fuck about anything other than maths.
6. Beatrice Potter Webb (1858-1943)
A social reformer, economist and historian, Beatrice Potter Webb campaigned with her husband to help the poor. In her time she helped work towards the first minimum wage laws, developed the early Labour party in Britain, all while writing hundreds of books. What a woman.
7. Lilian Bland (1878-1971)
An author and aviator, Lilian was a total badass. She built her own plane in Ireland; but as it had no engine she had to fashion one from a whisky bottle and her aunt’s ear trumpet. Serious skills. It went 30 yards, which was great for the time. Her hobbies showed how cool she was; she was into smoking, martial arts, wearing trousers, motor cars and swearing. She sounds like my kind of lady.
8. Ethel L. Payne (1911-1991)
A formidable investigative journalist, Ethel covered the American Civil Rights Movement and international affairs. An enemy of President Eisenhowever after she persistently questioned him on the same topic, she was a woman to be feared. The first female African-American commentator on a national network when she was hired by CBS in the 1970s, she was complained about because of her style. Thankfully she didn’t give a fuck.
9. Murasaki Shikibu (973-1025 ish)
Japanese lady in waiting Murasaki is believed to be the writer of the first novel in human history, The Tale of Genji. Her father praised her intelligence, but lamented that she was born a woman. In an act of defiance, she learned Chinese by eavesdropping on her brother’s lessons (women were not allowed to learn Chinese). What a legend.
10. Nellie Bly (1864-1922)
A groundbreaking journalist, Nellie wrote stories on political corruption and poverty. She once faked madness in order to report on a dodgy mental institution. While jealous peers claimed she was “stunt reporting”, Nellie carried on without giving a single fuck. Oh yeah, and she travelled around the world in a record-breaking 72 days just because she fancied it.
11. Nzinga Mbandi (1583-1663)
The former Queen of what is now Angola, Nzinga was no ordinary monarch. She was a master of diplomacy, military tactics, warfare, espionage, trade, alliance-building, and religious matters, all of which made her a stone cold threat. Literally a Queen, Nzinga is one of history’s most capable and badass women.
12. Hedy Lamarr (1914-2000)
Film star and inventor (I know), Hedy Lamarr was a good looking dame too. Let’s be honest, she had it all. She invented “frequency hopping” technology, which was used secret communications and WWII submarines. An all round achiever, it’s no surprise that Hedy was a class act.
13. Tomyris (6th Century BC)
Tomyris was a queen of the Massagetae, an Iranian people of Central Asia east of the Caspian Sea. She is famous for defeating and killing the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great during his invasion of her lands. A total power woman, Tomyris took Cyrus’ head and kept it with her at all times. She even drank wine out of it! A woman who didn’t give a single fuck about any man.
14. Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
One of the most famous human rights activists ever, Rosa Parks is famous for refusing to give up her seat for a white person in 1955. This sparked the movement that brought Martin Luther King to fame. After she died, her casket was taken, aboard a bus similar to the one in which she made her protest, to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. She was the first woman to receive this honour. Bravo Rosa, we salute you.
15. Joan of Arc (1412-1431)
A national heroine of France, Joan is a pretty big deal. A war hero during the Hundred Years’ War, Joan was tried and executed for heresy when she was only 19 years old. However this was later declared invalid by the Pope and she was declared innocent and a martyr 24 years later. Now a saint, Joan is one of history’s most talked about women. Quite right too, as our Joan was an absolute hero.
While young girls these days look up to the likes of Beyonce and Rihanna – they should read more about the fascinating lives of these leading ladies. If you’re looking for a real female role model, then start here. Speaking of role models, these women who sold their virginity might best be avoided. Inspired to emulate the heady heights of Rosa Parks or Hedy Lamarr? Let us know.
via www.viralthread.com