Women have always had to fight for their place among men and these battles, despite the difficulties, have been built on the backs of female pioneers who broke social norms and made innovative movements in the world of academia, politics, sports and creativity, writes FemaleFirst.
These pioneering women paved the way for where society is today, but even now their achievements are minimized and hidden. These are some of the women who have made history.
11 women who were the first to achieve great things in their fields:
Valentina Tereshkova: The first woman in space
Russian Valentina Tereshkova made history as the first woman in space. While a factory assembly worker, Tereshkova was recruited by the Russian cosmonaut program and blazed an important trail for women when she was sent into space aboard Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963.
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Women who write history
Elena Lucrezia: First woman to receive a university degree
Venetian philosopher of noble descent, Elena Lucrezia made history in 1678 as the first woman to receive a university degree. Since the establishment of universities in Western Europe, women were unable to obtain doctoral degrees, but Lucrezia paved the way for women's education when she received her doctorate in philosophy from the University of Bologna in Italy.
Gertrude Ederle: First woman to swim across the English Channel
Gertrude Ederle proved that women are capable of impressive physical feats when she became the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926. The American had been swimming from a young age and her skills and endurance helped her cross the Channel, in a time two hours shorter than the then record.
Junko Tabei: The first woman to climb Mount Everest
In another feat of physical endurance, Junko Tabei co-led a group of women to climb Mount Everest and became the first woman ever to set foot on the summit. Junko went on to climb the highest peaks on every continent.
Marie Curie: First woman to receive a Nobel Prize
Not only the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, but still the only woman to win it twice, Marie Curie was a trailblazing pioneer of women in science with her research into radioactivity. Her first Nobel Prize was a joint prize with her husband, but she strengthened her claim as a distinguished scientist with a second prize in 1911 for chemistry.
Helen Hayes: First woman to win "EGOT"
After an illustrious career in theatre, film and television, Helen Hayes achieved the groundbreaking feat of becoming the first woman, and one of only 16 actors in history, to achieve "EGOT" status – winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. Versatile and talented, she remains a legendary figure in the performing arts.
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Celebrating women in science for International Women's Day
Edith Wharton: First Woman to Win a Pulitzer Prize
Another award-winning woman, Edith Wharton became the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for her stunning book, The Age of Innocence, in 1921. This critique of upper-class society cemented her name as one of the most prominent in literature.
Sarann Knight-Preddy: The first and only black woman to receive a casino management license
Pioneer and savvy entrepreneur, Sarann Knight-Preddy is the first and only black woman to receive a gaming license in Nevada. After many years of working in Las Vegas, Sarann took the step to open her own bar and casino. Her achievement paved the way for both women and people of color in the current casino industry.
Kathrine Switzer: First woman to run the Boston Marathon
In 1967, Kathrine Switzer made headlines as the first woman to finish the Boston Marathon. Against the will of officials who tried to remove her from the race, Switzer defied the gender stereotypes that had persisted despite all the other groundbreaking feats of women up to that point and continued to prove the ability of women around the world.
Oprah Winfrey: The First Black Female Billionaire
In its first year, the influential show "The Oprah Winfrey Show" raised $125 million, and Oprah received her share of $30 million. She with keen entrepreneurial skills grew her fortune to a billion by 2003. Winfrey is also a philanthropist and still inspires women around the world.
Amelia Earhart: First woman to fly a plane across the Atlantic
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Scientific discoveries that have left their mark on history
Amelia Earhart's aeronautical career came to an end when she mysteriously disappeared while attempting to circumnavigate the globe in 1937. However, her work was not wasted as her achievement was recognized by history. Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932.
(Prepared by: Vita Abrashi - Kajtazi)
