Women in History

Introduction

By: Kira Garcia 

Throughout history there have always been stories about men who have made an impact on the world, but what about women? For decades women have not been given enough credit for what they have done to make the world a better place. According to womenshistory.org, in February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th, 1980 as National Women’s History Week. This tradition first started as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978 but soon spread worldwide. There are so many women who have taken a stand for what they believe in . They have helped the world open up to new ideas. To celebrate National Women’s Day here are just a few of the women who have made an impact.

Eleanor Roosevelt

By: Jackson Nguyen

Eleanor Roosevelt was the first lady and wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Born on Oct. 11, 1884, she was an active Democrat and writer for most of her life, according to History.com. After turning 18 and finishing her formal education, she took part in social reform work and was a volunteer teacher for immigrant children. In the 1920s, Eleanor Roosevelt was an activist and part of the Women’s Union Trade League and the League of Women Voters. According to Biography.com, as the first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt changed what it meant to be the first lady by going against traditional ways. She held press conferences about important issues instead of staying quiet in the background. Roosevelt also dedicated her time to working alongside the United Nations, eventually going on to head the Human Rights Committee. After her husband’s death, she continued to do serve the public as a private citizen. For instance, she was a board member for many organizations, such as the Advisory Council for the Peace Corps.

Kamala Harris 

By: Issac Pedraja 

Kamala Harris is not only the first female vice president of the United States, she is also the first Black and Asian-American vice president. Harris’ mother raised her and her sisters by herself after her divorce, so Harris admired her mother as a strong woman. Harris later attended Howard University and The University of California, Hastings College of the Law. After deciding to take on a role in politics, she made history by becoming the first Black woman in California to be elected district attorney in 2003.  She was also friends with Obama when he ran for the Senate in 2004, according to Politico. She then became a Senator in 2017 and began her presidential campaign in January 2019, but later ended this campaign in December. She was chosen as Joe Biden’s running mate in August 2020.

Frida Kahlo 

By: Joseline Hernandez

One of the greatest Mexican artists was a woman by the name of Frida Kahlo. The first thing many people think of when Frida Kahlo is mentioned is her iconic eyebrows and the braided updo with bright colorful flowers, but behind that, she was a woman who was resilient and showed what courage can do even in the face of hardships. According to Biography.com, Kahlo contracted polio at a young age, which left her right leg and foot damaged, giving her a limp every time she walked. She did not let that stop her, however. In school, Kahlo became politically active by joining the Mexican Communist Party and the Young Communist League. While recovering from a bus accident, she began to paint her first self-portrait. Kahlo’s work began to flourish and gain more popularity since many exhibits displayed her work in places like Mexico City and Paris. Kahlo’s work has captured the attention of millions around the world because of the personal stories they tell of the struggles and hardships she endured in her life. As a feminist icon, she was not afraid to tell her story to the world.

Serena Williams 

By: Trinity Duran

Serena Williams is a tennis champion and world-class athlete. She is more than that; she’s an inspiration and role model to young girls and women around the world. The Los Angeles Times stated that Williams and her older sister Venus grew up in Compton, California, where they played tennis together on public courts with their father as their first coach. At the age of 14, Williams attended her first professional tennis match in 1995. She did not win this match, however, she was not willing to give up that easily, so she continued to work even harder than before. She earned her first singles title in 1999. She also played in the U.S Open, where she defeated Grand Slam champions such as Kim Clijsters, Conchita Martinez and Monica Seles and number one ranked Martina Hingis. This made Serena Williams the second African American woman after Althea Gibson to have won a Grand Slam singles tournament, according to ESPN. Williams has won 23 grand slam tournament victories – more than any active tennis player. She has never shied away from calling out discrimination, especially in sports. She also embraces body positivity and continues to spread the message that women do not need to have a certain physique to be beautiful. Serena Williams is one of the many phenomenal women who deserve to be celebrated this Women’s History Month.