International Womans Day

Today is International Womans Day. It was started in 1910 by a large organization of women world wide promoting equal rights, demanded that women be given the right to vote and to hold public office, They also protested against employment sex discrimination.  There is still a whole lot of these acts going on, womens rights haven't reached their full equality yet.  Today I would like to honor some of the women for their courage, and strength. These women have helped the voices of others to be heard.  I listed them by the century or decade of their time.


Sappho



First ever female poetry author to ever be published.  Her poetry was greatly admired but sadly lost, however her immense reputation has survived throughout the years.



Joan of Ark



Had a vision from "heaven" which gave her the courage and inspiration to be first ever woman who would lead the French in revolt against the English. She was a heroine at the age of 17 when she successfully led the French to victory at Orleans. Her later trial and martyrdom on false premises only made her even more mysterious.


Mary Wollstonecraft 



She was a A true pioneer in the fight for female suffrage.
Her Book “ A Vindication of the Rights of Women” was the most significant book in the early feminist movement in which she layed down moral and practical basis for extending human and political rights to women



Coco Chanel



One of the most innovative fashion designers.  Her ideas where truly revolutionary. She was set on making a individual break through style for women, in which she used traditional mens fashion and redesigned it for womans benifits.  She made women sophisticated, elegant and stylish in a pant suit, something nobody had achieved before her.


Katharine Hepburn



An iconic hollywood actress known for her strong personality and independence. Her lifestyle was unconventional for the time and through her acting and life she helped redefine traditional views of women’s role in society.


Rosa Parks

By refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man Rosa Parks started one of the most significant civil rights legistlations of American History.  With her peaceful and dignified protest she beceame one of the most respected figures in the civil rights movements.

Billie Holiday



Given the title “First Lady of the Blues” Billie Holliday was widely considered to be the greatest and most expressive jazz singer of all time. Her voice was intesily and emotionally moving probably fuelled by her turbulent private life. Despite dying at the age of only 44 Billie Holliday helped define the jazz era and her recordings are widely sold today.


Betty Friedan



For a woman whos lastname almost means "peace" in the german language, she sturred up quite a storm (a good kind of storm) in the 1960s.  She is one of the leading feminist figures of that era and her book "The Feminine Mystique" became a best seller and received both praise and intense criticism. 
 Betty Frieden fought for an extension of female rights and an end to sexual discrimination.

Marilyn Monroe



One of the most iconic female figures.  She rose from childhood poverty to becoming one of the most iconic female figures in history.  She defined female glamour and dignity, showing women to be sophisticated, sexy and glamorous which was a major breakthrough at that time.


Audrey Hepburn 


 
Leading female actor of the 1950s and 60s.  Audrey Hepburn defined feminine glamour and dignity, and was later voted as most beautiful women of the twentieth century. After her acting career ended in the mid 1960s, she devoted the remaining period of her life to humanitarian work with UNICEF.

Maya Angelou



American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible female autobiographer". With the publication of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", Angelou was acclaimed as a new kind of author, one of the first African American women who was able to publicly discuss her personal life. Her books, centered on themes such as identity, family, and racism, are often used as set texts in schools and universities internationally. 


Yet STILL Some of her more controversial work has been challenged or banned in U.S. schools and libraries, along with thousands of other controversial work by many other women, which means we still have a long way to go. 


Today we can celebrate how far we've come thanks to so many women who had the courage to step out and fight for whats right. 


Happy International Womans Day! 


Over and out,
Anita Riot