Celebrating Women’s History Month: The Most Iconic Women in History

By Adriana Zaragoza

1) Florence Nightingale:

Born on May 12, 1820, in Florence, Italy. Nightingale was an outstanding social reformer and statistician famously known for being the founder of modern day nursing, starting when she had foundational views on sanitation in the Crimean War. Thank you, Florence, for your work.

2) Helen Keller:

Born June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Hellen Keller was struck by a horrible illness at a young age, causing her to become deaf and blind. Anne Sullivan, her teacher, helped Keller to develop communication skills. Keller had then attended college, and famously became an educator, advocate for the disabled, and founder of the American Civil Liberties Union. Thank you for all your work, Helen. 

3) Amelia Earhart:

Earhart was born July 24, 1897. Not only was she the first woman to ever fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean and to the US mainland from Hawaii, she was a well known aviator who set various flying records. Changing aviation for women, she championed the advancement of the flying world. We can thank Amelia for changing things up in the flying business for us women.

4) Mother Teresa:

Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, in Uskup, Ottoman Empire, on August 26, 1910. Mother Teresa was the founder of The Missionaries of Charity, aimed to help and look after abandoned babies, children, and the poorest of the poor. She was a Roman Catholic nun, who devoted her life to help the poor and destitute of the world. You will forever be our Mother Teresa, thank you.

5) Rosa Parks:

The famous Rosa Parks was born February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Parks is one of the biggest initiators of the Civil Rights Movement. Sticking up for herself and her race, she refused to leave her bus seat, as it was a “White’s Only” seat. Risking her freedom, this one action started not only the Civil Rights Movement, but helped start the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you for your confidence, Rosa.

6) Maya Angelou:

Born Marguerite Ann Johnson on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. She is better known as the famous Maya Angelou, being an American poet, memorist, and actress. She has used her upcoming fame to write various autobiographies about her hardships, racial, and sexual oppression. We can thank Maya for her use of fame to spread awareness.

7) Anne Frank:

Annelies Marie Frank, born on June 12, 1929 in Frankfurt, German, is famously known for her forceful move and hiding in the Netherlands, as Adolf Hitler made the lives of the Jewish incredibly difficult. Anne and her family spent their time in a small apartment, safe and hiding away, as Anne kept a now famous diary of their accounts. Anne’s father was the only left survivor, but her diary will live on forever as one of the most documented events of the Holocaust. Thank you for your bravery, Anne.

8) Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

Ruth Joan Bader was born March 15, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York (happy belated Birthday!). Ruth was best known as the second female justice of the U.S Supreme Court. Being the first female tenured professor, she also became the director of the Women’s Rights Project, using her granted power of many high positions, to fight for gender equality. Thank you for fighting for us, RBG.

9) Dolly Parton:

Famous country singer Dolly Parton was born January 19, 1946 in Locust Ridge, Tennessee. Being a great singer, she has used her money and fame to create and give out various scholarships, donate over $3.7 million and even more to coronavirus efforts, hospitals, and natural disaster aftermaths, including food and mental health resources. We are incredibly thankful to Dolly.

10) Malala Yousafzai:

Malala, born July 12, 1997 in Mingora, Pakistan. In January 2008, Malala was stripped of her school life due to the Taliban taking control. Later in 2012, she spoke out for all girls and their right to learn, making her a target of the Taliban. After being brutally shot, and having to take many years to rehabilitate, she started the Malala Fund in 2014. The Malala Fund is dedicated to giving all girls an opportunity to choose their future. Thank you for your educational help and sacrifice, Malala.