Inspirational women

[naicepineapple]

Off the back of another thread, didn't want to derail. Can we have a thread celebrating truly inspirational women from history to modern day. They can be well known or people only personally known to you.

I'll start with Rosa Parks, she lived from 1913-2005 and was an American civil rights activist who refused to give up her bus seat to a white person.
The First Lady of civil rights and the mother of the freedom movement.

I second Doreen Lawrence and Michelle Obama.

I don’t know if anyone has mentioned Anne Williams, inspirational Hillsborough campaigner, never lost faith, remained elegant and fierce in the face of all the lies and cover-ups.

Take a minute today to search on YouTube for Emily Hayward, it will change your day, if not your life. She vlogged about her fight against cancer, she was bright, funny, brave and loving until she lost her fight this year, aged 24.

Finally my Mum. Died of cancer aged 61, never ever complained, faced her death with equanimity and calm, two months before she died she told me that “if someone had to get it then she was glad it was her”. If I have even a tenth of her bravery and stoicism when my time comes then I’ll be grateful.

Rosa Luxemburg, one of the greatest theoretical minds of the European socialist movement.

My 5yr old was learning about Amy Johnson at school the other day, the first female pilot to fly solo from Britain to Australia in 1930. Her story obviously struck a chord with him as he usually doesn’t tell me anything about school except what he’s had for lunch.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Blavatsky

@archeryannie she sounds amazing. And right at the end, she took her driving test at sixty! Good for her.

Great thread! I think there’s a gap in the market for a kids’ book about ordinary inspirational people/women. It’s fab to celebrate famous inspirational women, but actually, most of us need ordinary people to inspire us. It’s okay to be ordinary!! My great auntie is one. She was extraordinarily kind, stayed single all her life yet had so very many children flocking to her. I loved staying with her and one of my daughters has her name.

There are at least two I know of that have broached this; 'This Little Trailblazer: A Girl Power Primer' and 'Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World'. Fantastic books, I prefer the latter as I think all of the author, Vashti Harrison's books are amazing.

I met Maya Angelou at a book signing. She was six feet tall and magnificent and charming. My face ached from grinning.

Baroness Helena Kennedy

Thank you @sarahjconnor I’ve just spent half an hour reading about Nanny of the Maroons - fascinating! I’d never heard of her.

So many amazing women. A PP was right, read any history of adversity or world defining change and you’ll find inspirational women.

In the meantime, I’d just like to add Ana Carrasco. She’s only 21 and has just won the World Supersport 300 championship. She’s the first woman to win a motorbike world championship and I think she will be on these lists in years to come.

Sylvia Lancaster: mother of Sophie, who was brutally murdered because of her alternative style of dress. She set up an influential fund, charity and education campaign - Stamp Out Prejudice, Intolerance and Hatred Everywhere - to prevent others suffering the same fate as her daughter's. Sha later received the OBE. She's one of the greatest examples of returning good for evil I can think of and I once nominated her for an Inspirational Woman award on Radio 4. She's a selfless, wonderful human being.