Women have contributed an unbelievable amount of knowledge, discovery, and talent in every field throughout history. Unfortunately, each and every woman doesn’t get the credit and worldwide recognition they deserve. Now it is the perfect time to reflect on some of the lesser-known heroes out there.
Here are some amazing women who changed the world but are not so well-known:
Alexandra David-Néel:
She was a French explorer, writer, and Buddhist who snuck into Tibet to learn more about the religion. She was the first Western woman to enter the forbidden city of Lhasa, and her work was a major contribution to world history.
Frances Marion
She was Hollywood’s highest-paid screenwriter and the first woman to win two Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay. She wrote over 300 scripts and helped shape the film industry.
Patsy Mink
In 1964, Patsy Mink became the first woman of color to get elected to the United States Congress. Mink, a Japanese-American who served as a Hawaii representative, was elected four years before Shirley Chisolm famously became the first Black female congresswoman in New York.
Nancy Lopez
She was a professional golfer who won 48 LPGA Tour events, including three major championships. She was the first woman to be awarded the Frances Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf.
Anna May Wong
Among the not so know women who changed the world is also Anna May Wong. She was the first Chinese-American movie star and one of the first Asian-American actresses to gain international recognition. She paved the way for other Asian-American actors and actresses in Hollywood.
Melba Liston
She was a jazz trombonist and arranger who worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Dizzy Gillespie and Billie Holiday. Moreover, she was one of the few women in jazz at the time and helped break down barriers for future female musicians.
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Mary Anning
She was a British fossil collector and paleontologist who made several important discoveries in the field. She was one of the first people to identify and correctly classify the fossils of ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and pterosaurs.
Chien-Shiung Wu
She was a Chinese-American physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. She made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics and was the first woman to receive the Wolf Prize in Physics.
Wangari Maathai
She was a Kenyan environmental and political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, an organization that planted over 50 million trees in Kenya. She was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Ada Lovelace
She was a British mathematician and writer who is credited with writing the world’s first computer program. Besides, she worked with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine and wrote a series of notes that included an algorithm for the machine.
Gertrude Bell
She was a British archaeologist, writer, and diplomat who played a key role in the formation of Iraq. She was one of the few women in her field at the time and helped shape the Middle East as we know it today.
Mary Eliza Mahoney
She was the first African-American registered nurse in the United States. She co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses and worked to improve the working conditions for nurses of all races.
Maria Sibylla Merian
She was a German naturalist and scientific illustrator who studied insects and plants. She was one of the first people to observe and document the metamorphosis of butterflies and moths.
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Mary Edwards Walker
She was a surgeon and women’s rights activist who served as a surgeon during the Civil War. She was the first woman to receive the Medal of Honor and worked to promote women’s suffrage and dress reform.
Ching Shih
She was a Chinese pirate who commanded a fleet of over 300 ships and 20,000 men. She was one of the most successful pirates in history and was known for her strict code of conduct.
Stephanie Kwolek
She was a chemist who invented Kevlar, a material used in bulletproof vests and other protective gear. Her invention has saved countless lives and has been used by law enforcement and military personnel around the world. Undoubtedly, she deserves a place among the not so known women who changed the world.
Mary Jackson
She was a mathematician and aerospace engineer who worked for NASA during the Space Race. She was one of the first African-American women to work at NASA and helped pave the way for future generations of women and minorities in the field.
Rosalind Franklin
Rosaling Franklin is among the not so known women who changed the world. She was a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer who made significant contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA. Her work was instrumental in the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.
Lise Meitner
She was an Austrian physicist who worked on the team that discovered nuclear fission. She was one of the few women in her field at the time and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physics several times but never won.
This is a just a short list of not so known women who changed the world. These omen are just a few examples of the many unsung heroes who have changed the world. Their contributions have helped shape history and pave the way for future generations. It’s important to recognize and celebrate their achievements, and to continue to support and empower women in every field.
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