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Original poster

Inspirational women in history - who's yours?

256 replies

HecateTrivia · 08/06/2012 13:58

My son has to research and do a biography of an inspirational woman in history. I wondered who you feel inspired by?

OP posts:
WidowWadman · 08/06/2012 21:48

I don't think it's about ranking them. And I guess Di's work with HIV patients is note worthy and helped overcoming stigma in a time when HIV positive people where regarded with lots of suspicion and fear.

megabored · 08/06/2012 21:44

Sorry but I disagree with putting princess Diana in the same league as mother Terasa or Aung Sung. Sorry if this is rude. I have probably created an 'issue' here and I am sure I am going to get thrashed on here for this comment.

enimmead · 08/06/2012 20:57

Can I say Princess Diana?

She fought against the trappings and expectations of the Monarchy. Her work with charity especially HIV victims and Land mines was inspiring. Just to see her with HIV children and to show them as human was powerful.

znaika · 08/06/2012 20:04

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Juule · 08/06/2012 19:56

Æthelflæd

Hypatia

thechairmanmeow · 08/06/2012 19:55

Aung San Suu Kyi......indeed WW, damn, why diddnt i think of that

WidowWadman · 08/06/2012 19:46

What's wrong with finding Millicent Fawcett inspirational?

RulersMakeBadLovers · 08/06/2012 19:42

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WidowWadman · 08/06/2012 19:33

Millicent Fawcett - but I guess she's too moderate for some people here...

RulersMakeBadLovers · 08/06/2012 19:17

Caroline Norton The chapter on her life in the book Significant Sisters is well worth reading to see how far we've come, how much effort is needed to change the status quo and yet what important ripples can be caused by the dedication of one person (andthose they bring along with them). She wasn't perfect (who is?) but her spirit and fight were immense. I would love to know what she would think of the world as it is now.

"Primarily because of Caroline's intense campaigning, Parliament passed the Custody of Infants Act 1839 and the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857.The Matrimonial Causes Act allowed married women to inherit property and take court action on their own behalf, while the Custod of Children Act granted mothers limited custodial rights over minor children."

Yama · 08/06/2012 19:15

I second Corrie Ten Boom.

She helped Jews hide and then escape from the Nazis in Holland during WW2. She was caught and she and her sister were sent to Ravensbruck. Her sister (Betsie) was beaten by a guard. Betise died there.

Corrie survived and forgave the guard.

megabored · 08/06/2012 19:09

Widowwad, totally agree. How can we forget? Should be at top of list. I also think Angela Merkel is cool.

megabored · 08/06/2012 19:07

Sorry I read this as influential. In term if inspirational, the it's got to be mother Teresa and Mary Anning. Started from nothing and did a lot of good. Changed
The way society thinks. Of course, and all the Pankhurst ladies...

WidowWadman · 08/06/2012 19:07

Aung San Suu Kyi

megabored · 08/06/2012 19:04

Mary Anning
Mary magdalene
Helen of troy
Indira Gandhi
Queen Victoria
Joan of arc
Mary antoinette

megabored · 08/06/2012 18:58

Mother Teresa,
Marie Currie
Hatshepsut
Cleopatra
Nefertiti

piprabbit · 08/06/2012 18:14

Bess of Hardwick ran a business empire in the 16th Century. She built the original Chatsworth.

MiniTheMinx · 08/06/2012 18:11

Silly question maybe how do you pronounce Kosmodenyanksaya? Znaika.

I wonder where Julia Scurr is?

znaika · 08/06/2012 18:05

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rosy71 · 08/06/2012 16:49

Emmeline & Christabel Pankhurst - obviously women's suffrage
Sylvia Pankhurst - the above plus lots more!
Vera Brittain - WW1 nurse, author, social reformer, mother of Shirley Williams
Beatrice Webb - founder of the Fabian Scoiety, socialist
Maria Montessori - doctor, educationalist
Elizabeth Fry - prison reformer
Hildegard of Bingen -writer, musician, political adviser
Nefertiti - Egyptian Queen
Boudicca - British Queen

I'm sure there are loads more but I can't think of them now!

grimbletart · 08/06/2012 16:38

Violette Szabo - because she illustrated that courage and sacrifice is not simply the prerogative of men.

Alameda · 08/06/2012 16:32

Josephine Butler doesn't get enough mention, she is one of my favourites (will be back with many more)

ICutMyFootOnOccamsRazor · 08/06/2012 16:27

Harriet Tubman. Amazing woman.

MiniTheMinx · 08/06/2012 16:17

Clara Zetkin

Feminist and socialist. Unionist and radical, expelled from Germany by Hitler because she refused to "calm down dear"

TalkinPeace2 · 08/06/2012 15:33

A few ideas here
womenshistory.about.com/od/biographies/u/biographies_women.htm