Inspired by Glamour Mag on Instagram, here’s a list of amazing women who were the first to do things in this world and some of our favorite women who are walking in their footsteps.
Phillis Wheatley was the first published African-American female poet. When Wheatley’s book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was published in 1773, she became the first African American to publish a book of poetry. Since then, many female poets have left their mark in this world just like Phillis.
Meet Rupi Kaur, Toronto-based poet, illustrator, and photographer thinks she’s better at putting pen to paper than she is at giving an oral interview. Her work is biting and soft. She twists language in a way that makes you want to walk into a forest and stare up at the sky through the trees. Her words allow you the space to see the world a little differently.
Hypatia was one of the first crusaders for science. As a philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician, Hypatia was definitely an OG boss lady. She is the first known female mathematician. We’ve come a long way since Egyptian mathematics and these Latinas in S.T.E.M. could tell you all about it. We’re also pretty sure these 5 black women dominating the tech space could tell ya some more about how women today are revolutionizing the S.T.E.M. industry. Thank you Hypatia!
Althea Garrison was the first known transgender person in state office, a long-time minor figure in Boston politics, served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the early 90s. While Althea had to keep many aspects of her personal life a secret to those around her, other women in her footsteps have taken more public approaches to identifying as transgender.
Born Gregory Lazzarato, the middle of three brothers, Gigi Gorgeous began sharing YouTube videos from her bedroom in Toronto in 2008. After losing her mother to cancer that Gigi posted a video to YouTube officially identifying as transgender.
Hetty Green was the woman who dominated wall street in the early 1900s. She was nicknamed the "Witch of Wall Street", and became known as "the richest woman in America" during the Gilded Age.
Meet the modern Hetty- Sallie Krawkrwch, former Wall Street maven. She once ran such elite institutions as Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, and Smith Barney, and is now leveraging her 30 plus years of professional expertise to help women build and invest wealth and “unleash women’s financial power.” Krawcheck is on a mission to close what she calls the “gender investment gap”.
Jeanne Baret was the first woman to travel around the globe, however, she did it as a man. Jeanne Baret was a member of an expedition ship in the 1700s. Baret is recognized as the first woman to have completed a voyage of circumnavigation of the globe.
Jeanne paved the way for women today, like the co-founders of AWAY, to take the lead on changing the way we travel. Jen Rubio and Steph Korey set out to create a piece of luggage for the way "people really move" that didn't come with a first class price tag.
Lydia Taft was the first woman to ever vote in the nation. She did it at a Town Meeting in the New England town of Uxbridge in Massachusetts Colony.
Today we have Cynthia Nixon-- you know her from sex and the city. Nixon just announced that she is officially running for governor of New York City. If she wins, she’ll become New York’s first woman and LGBT governor.
Women’s history month is the perfect opportunity to celebrate those who paved the way for women like us to truly live our best lives.
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