Politics, Patriots, and Beyond
Women are helping to make decisions and influence the world. They are activists, leaders, in the military, and politicians that stand up for what they believe in.
Here are a few of the many female leaders
Eleanor of Aquitaine
By Rezo1515 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Eleanor was born in 1122 and was a very impactful and cunning woman. At the age of 15, she was married to Louis VII, the king of France. This marriage didn’t work out, and she married the king of England. She was one of the most desired brides of her time, one because of the land she owed (she inherited a vast estate at the age of 15), and also because of her beauty. What they didn’t know was that she wasn’t going to stand by and let her husband boss her around. During her marriage to the King of England, she was imprisoned for 16 years for being a traitor to her husband. One of her sons was planning to steal the throne, and Eleanor had supplied the army for him, along with two other of her sons. She died in 1204.
https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/eleanor-of-aquitainehttps://www.history.com/topics/british-history/eleanor-of-aquitaine
Emmeline Pankhurst
By Unknown - http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//8/media-8597/large.jpg
This photograph Q 81486 from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.
, Public Domain, Link
Emmeline Pankhurst was born in England in 1858 and died in 1928. Pankhurst founded the Women’s Social and Political Union, which advocated for women’s rights and suffrage. She was imprisoned many times, but Parliament granted women limited suffrage rights in 1918. Women were given full voting rights shortly after she died.
https://www.biography.com/people/emmeline-pankhurst-9432764Rosa Parks
By Unknown - USIA / National Archives and Records Administration Records of the U.S. Information Agency Record Group 306, Public Domain, Link
Rosa Parks was born in February 1913 and died in 2005. She is best known for refusing to give up her seat on a crowded bus to a white man in 1955. This is one of the acts that started the civil rights movement. She was arrested for this, but this single act ended up having a huge impact. The boycott for the buses, organized by Martin Luther King, Jr. was inspired by her protest. She is also known as an inspiring woman and for being impactful towards getting African Americans the equal rights they deserved.
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/rosa-parksLori Robinson
By United States Air Force - http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/108119/general-lori-j-robinson.aspx
http://media.dma.mil/2014/Oct/16/2000948489/-1/-1/0/141016-F-PB123-257.JPG, Public Domain, Link
Lori Robinson is best known for being the highest ranked military women in US history. She was born January 27, 1959, in Texas. Her father was an Air Force fighter pilot in the Vietnam War. He ended his career when he retired as a colonel. Robinson continued to rise in ranks throughout her entire life until, in 2016, she became commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM).
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lori-RobinsonQueen Victoria
By Unknown - https://www.hola.com/realeza/casa_inglesa/galeria/2012041257984/reina-isabel-reina-victoria-jubileo/1/, Public Domain, Link
Queen Victoria (1819–1901) was in the throne for 6 decades becoming one of Britain’s most famous monarchs. When she was born no one thought she would end up on the throne given she was 5th in line. People thought Victoria wasn't a regal name so when it became clear that Victoria would become Queen of England she was advised to change her name to something more traditional. She refused to do this. Queen Victoria went on to have 9 children and her husband, Albert, died when she was 42 from Typhoid Fever.
https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/queen-victoria-timeline-dates-life-marriage-children-rule-death/Here are additional resources to learn more about influential women in politics, leadership, and activism:
http://time.com/4551817/50-women-political-history/
https://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/blog-post/brief-history-women-american-politics
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinehoward/2017/11/01/women-who-rule-the-world-the-25-most-powerful-female-political-leaders-2017/#5af4d9d15c1b
