We all know women can kick major butt in just about every field if given the opportunity. For many women, that opportunity never comes and even when it does they are often hidden from the limelight they deserve. You know that quote, “Behind every great man….” Because sadly so many people- females included- are more comfortable with women being behind the scenes. Women all over the world have been butt kickin in their fields for centuries. Smart women, creative women, and hard working women have been omitted from history books and more importantly from young girls looking for role models. So with that in mind here are 5 women that changed history without you ever knowing.
1. Margaret Hamilton
Meet Margaret Hamilton, computer scientist, system engineer, founder and CEO of Hamilton technologies-- oh and also the director of the team which developed the software on Apollo 11. That software also called the AGC code which is what Margaret is standing next to… that entire stack is one code which made the moon landing possible. Hamilton and her team designed the softwares that included algorithms for landing and command center. In addition she herself was responsible for error detection and recovery systems which made the landing itself possible. The senior technologist who nominated Hamilton for a NASA Space Act Award, called Hamilton's work "the foundation for ultra-reliable software design." Also let’s remember that this was done in a time when computer science courses were almost available and software engineering courses weren’t even a thing. If you heard of her name recently it’s probably because she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2. Lorraine Hansberry
Image Credit: Brooklyn Museum Website
Next is theater legend, Lorraine Hansberry. Hansberry was the writer of Raisin in the Sun, a play which chronicled the struggles of a black American family. She was the granddaughter of a freed slave, whose family was persecuted when they moved to a white neighborhood. When she and her family were attacked by their white neighbors they made a legal case which made it to the Supreme Court and ruled in their favor. Hansberry would become the first black playwright to ever be shown on Broadway as well as the youngest American to win the New York’s Critics’ Circle Award. Try to imagine a more incredible story than granddaughter of a freed slave who worked to become the first black female playwright on Broadway.... Sike you can’t.
3. Alice Blache
Image Credit: HF Magazine
Alice Guy Blache was a screenwriter and director from the late 1890’s through the early 1920’s. Blache was the first female writer and director of narrative film, of which she made over 1000 most of which were lost over time. As far as we know Blache was the only female screenwriter in the world for the first ten years of her career. While her role in many films were omitted from the public her accomplishments were legendary. I mean first known in the world? Pretty awesome.
4. Julia De Burgos
Image Credit: Poetry Foundation
Julia De Burgos grew up in Puerto Rico and was a teacher there until moving to New York and becoming a journalist. De Burgos is credited with bringing unity to the Latina/Puerto-Rican communities and became a cultural icon for many-- something not many poets accomplish. One of her most famous poems, “Yo Misma Fui Mi Ruta (“I Was My Own Path”), showcases her messages of individual freedom. What’s that line from the Hamilton musical? Oh yeah, ‘Immigrants: We get the job done!”
5. Sophie Germain
Image Credit: Alchetron.com
As a young girls Sophie grew up in France during a time of great struggle and turmoil. To escape the madness of her world she hid away in her father’s study spending her time learning ancient philosophy. When she was older and unable to attend École Polytechnique in France due to her gender. Instead she gained lecture notes under a fake name from an employee of the school. Home girl even taught herself Latin and Greek in order to read the classic works of geometry and mathematics. Her work was severely encumbered by her lack of formal education and lack of resources available to the male mathematicians. However, despite all this she became the first woman to win a prize from the French Academy of Sciences, for work on a theory of elasticity. Some of her other works even though unsuccessful were used as the basis for continued advancements in the 20th century. You go girl.
