International Women’s Day: Some of our heroes

By Esther

March 8, 2014

Today is International Women’s Day. The global day celebrates the achievements of women: past, present and future.

In honor of the day, we’re showcasing and celebrating some remarkable women. There are so many that fit into this category but we’ll start with just a few:

Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Polish-born physicist and chemist Marie Curie, who researched radioactivity, moved to France. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win two Nobel Prizes, the only woman to win in two fields, and the only person to win in multiple sciences. Her work served as a foundation for modern day physics. She broke barriers and paved the way for women in her fields.

Helen Keller (1880-1968)
Author and activist Helen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree. She campaigned for women’s suffrage, labor rights and socialism. One of her Swiss ancestors was the first teacher for the deaf in Zurich. In her first autobiography, Helen stated “that there is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his.” She overcame adversities, and spent much of her life helping others.

Amelia Earhart (1897-1937)
A widely recognized woman during her lifetime and a feminist icon, Amelia Earhart received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for being the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She is an inspiration to all women to follow their hearts when it comes to careers and pursuing dreams.
Read more about Amelia on our blog.

Admiral “Amazing Grace” Hopper (1906–1992)
American computer scientist and US Navy admiral Grace Hopper was a pioneer in her field and was instrumental in developing programming languages. She always persevered and never gave up on a good idea. Later on in life, she became an inspirational professor and a sought-after speaker. She is remembered for her contributions to the computer industry and her leadership in many areas.

Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
Called “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement,” Rosa Parks helped launch efforts to end racial segregation in the US. She became a symbol of the modern Civil Rights Movement. Her courage helped change a nation and the world. She remains an inspiration to women to initiate change.