On a special day such as Mother’s Day, it’s important to remember and be proud of the strides women have made. History tells us women can accomplish anything they put their mind to. Never doubt your ability to influence policy, run a business, one household or simply run the world. Here are five women who have influenced the world we live in today and still remain an inspiration that women are forced to be reckoned with:
Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906): During the 19th century many activists came together for women’s suffrage, but Anthony definitely stands out. Her speech in 1852 at the National Women’s Rights Convention inspired change and hope for the future. She also published a weekly journal, campaigning tirelessly for women’s rights until her death in 1906. 14 years after her passing her dream came true–women were given the right to vote.
Margaret Sanger (1879-1966): While working as a nurse in New York City, Sangar risked her freedom by passing out a pamphlet called, “Family Limitation,” which contained contraceptive information. Birth control was illegal during that time, but she felt women needed it to live healthy lives and to be equal to men. She didn’t slow down even when she was in her 80s as she promoted birth control pills during the 1960s. With Massachusetts being the last state to hold out, all women were able to purchase contraceptives in 1972.
Virginia Apgar (1909-1974): Dr. Apgar was the first woman to become a full professor at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1949. She made history in 1953 when she introduced the Apgar Score, a health assessment test still used today for babies after birth to allow for immediate intervention. She was also an important advocate for the mandatory vaccination against rubella.
Rosa Parks (1913-2005): Parks is recognized for the important role she played in the rights of African-Americans in the United States. By refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus which led to her arrest, she inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a significant piece of the Civil Rights Movement. She was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996 by President Bill Clinton.
Betty Friedan (1921-2006): Thanks to her best-selling book, “The Feminine Mystique,” in 1963, the second wave of feminism was ignited, which forced America to open up its eyes to lives of housewives, social views and oppressive laws. In 1966, Friedan founded and became the first president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), with goals to ensure that women would be treated equally as men. She was a huge supporter of the Equal Right Amendment and is known for shaping how women are viewed and inspiring events that protect women today.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of the women out there! You are a significant part of someone’s life, special and unique in your own way. Our history tells us that women are more than just mothers but, a powerful force in everyday life.
Via: Third Age
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