(ThySistas.com) If you will notice, most heroes and investors who were recognized worldwide are often men. People like Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and Martin Luther King Jr. showcased their knowledge and skills to create something valuable. We may not have highlighted, but there are also a lot of women who made a difference in the world. In this column, we will highlight a few women who created a positive impact in history:
Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910)
Born on May 18, 1820, Florence Nightingale was a younger daughter of two children from a family that belonged to an elite circle. At a young age, she already showed her interest in philanthropy and had a firm belief in her calling as a nurse. While her parents did not approve of this, she pursued a nursing job in London in the early 1850s. She then became the first nurse to serve in the army during the Crimean War and was known as the lady with the lamp because she often checked on the soldiers and attended to their medical needs. Florence Nightingale’s dedication and care towards them eventually changed the quality of healthcare all over the world.
Marie Curie (1867 – 1934)
If there was a woman who changed the world of science, it is Marie Curie. She won two Nobel Prizes – 1903 for Physics and 1911 for Chemistry. She also became famous for her work on radioactivity. Apart from these, she also became the first professor at the University of Paris. Her discoveries, together with his husband Perrie Curie led to the development of cancer treatments.
Ada Lovelace (1815 – 1852)
Considered as the first programmer, Ada Lovelace. She was a writer and English mathematician who worked on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. And while the IT industry is dominated by men, it is surprisingly amazing to know that the first person to discover this was a woman.
Mary McLeod Bethune (1875 – 1955)
Mary Bethune always had a heart for educating people and advocating for civil rights. She founded the Daytona International and Industrial School in 1904. She also became the leader of myriad African American women’s organizations. Because of her commitment towards African Americans, she was known as the “First Lady of the Struggle”.
Hattie McDaniel (1895 – 1952)
McDaniel, another black person on the list, made a difference in the history of Hollywood. She became the first Black actor to receive an Oscar award for her portrayal of “Mammy” in the movie Gone with the Wind. Regardless of the unending issue of racism, Hattie McDaniel is one of the black people who stood out and got ahead of everyone else because of their potential and amazing contribution to their craft.
Grace Hopper (1906 – 1992)
Another woman who paved the way in technology, Grace Hopper was a U.S. Navy Admiral and mathematician who invented UNIVAC I – the first electronic computer. She was an in-demand speaker on various computer-related events and given the nickname “Grandma COBOL”.
And the list goes on. While there are a lot of men who are recognized for their valuable contributions, there are also a lot of women who have shown their potential in their chosen industry. Not all were recognized and rewarded for their job well done but it doesn’t erase the fact that women have their own capabilities in providing excellence and making an impact in the world. Women aren’t just women, they are women who are as awesome and as significant as men.
Staff Writer; Ellie Carter