On this International Women’s Day we thought we would highlight a few women that were freakin’ awesome! Women that paved the way so that we could enjoy freedoms and opportunities. I read to my daughter constantly and I always try to add in non-fiction picture books of women that were innovators, that were courageous and that followed their heart. To celebrate women everywhere today we will be listing some women that rocked, maybe you heard of them, maybe you haven’t, either or we think you will enjoy our round up. Some of these stories are hard to believe that in a not so distant past women did not have many liberties/opportunities and how these women were able to overcome and were able to work around what seemed like insurmountable obstacles.
Caroline Herschel | Scientist
Okay, not just any scientist, one of the greatest astronomers of all time, the first official woman scientist, first paid woman scientist (hired y the king of England no less) along with her brother built the greatest telescope of her time.
Nelly Bly | Journalist
Elizabeth Cochran Seaman (May 5, 1864 – January 27, 1922), known by her pen name Nellie Bly, was an American journalist. She was also a writer, industrialist, inventor, and a charity worker who was widely known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days, in emulation of Jules Verne’s fictional character Phileas Fogg, and an exposé in which she faked insanity to study a mental institution from within. She was a pioneer in her field, and launched a new kind of investigative journalism.
Carmen Herrera | Artist
A contemporary of Jean Paule Satre , Jean Genet and Simone de Beauvior she worked along side many greats. Unfortunately, her career didn’t take the same trajectory of her peers and success alluded her. She sold her first painting at the age of 89 and was “discovered” by the art cognoscenti, which she says is good thing because,”getting old is expensive”.
Beatrix Potter | Conservationist
Many people know of Beatrix Potter as the beloved author and illustrator of The Peter Rabbit series, but she was so much more. She was a self taught natural scientist and even though she was rejected from the prestigious school of Botany because of her gender her works on mycology (fungi) are still studied today. A conservationist she bequeathed the National Trust with the largest legacy donation in their history.
//RESOURCES//
Caroline Herschel Picture Book
Carmen Herrera documentary |Whitney article
12 Women that Changed the World
7 Women that Changed the World
12 Historical Women that gave no…
Nobel Prize Winners-Women Who Changed the World
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I loved this post and, once again, this is a great compilation of resources!
Hello!
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Thanks for your time. Sincerely,
Callie