March Is Women's History Month...Post About Inspirational Women

[OneEyedDiva]

Post about your most inspirational historical figures whether famous or family members. This is from a U.S. Census Bureau page:

"Women’s History Month honors the successes and sacrifices of U.S. women. It dates to March 8, 1857, when hundreds of women from New York City garment and textile factories rallied to protest harsh working conditions. In 1909, New York City became the site of the nation’s first Women’s Day celebration, a year after 15,000 women there marched to demand shorter working hours, better pay, an end to child labor and the right to vote. More than seven decades later, in 1981, Congress set aside the second week of March as Women’s History Week. Six years later, Congress expanded the week to a month. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we reflect upon the advances women have made, including increased earnings, educational attainment and job opportunities."

As a Muslim woman, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the Holy Quran, written approximately 1,400 years ago, gave women the right to pursue higher education, own property, own businesses, participate in politics, divorce and receive alimony (as long as the wife wasn't guilty of lewd behavior or having an affair). I searched for when did women in this country get the right to own property.
The first significant legal recognition of women’s property rights occurred in 1839, when Mississippi passed the Married Women’s Property Act

 

[horseless carriage]

Hand on heart I am no monarchist, nonetheless this lady does impress me:

Queen Elizabeth 1st, 1558–1603, is widely regarded as an inspirational figure, both during her lifetime and in subsequent centuries, due to her ability to defy the rigid gender constraints of the 16th century, lead a nation through crisis, and establish England as a major power. She is often cited as a model of leadership for independent women.

In a deeply patriarchal society that viewed women as inferior, Elizabeth refused to marry, famously declaring, "I will have but one mistress here, and no master!". This decision allowed her to retain absolute power, preventing a husband from taking control of the crown, which was considered a radical and shocking move at the time. She cultivated an image as "Gloriana" or the "Virgin Queen," portraying herself as a powerful, pure leader married to her country.

Elizabeth demonstrated significant courage and resilience, famously leading her country against the Spanish Armada in 1588 with a celebrated speech to her troops where she stated, "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; But I have the heart and stomach of a king." Her 44-year reign, known as the, "Golden Age," or Elizabethan Era, brought stability to a country fractured by religious, economic, and political upheaval. She was highly educated, speaking multiple languages, and she used her wit and intelligence to manage a male-dominated court.