March 8 on International Women's Day. This day is dedicated to all women worldwide. This article highlights 10 important and special women from history. At the bottom a small ode to all 'ordinary' women and mothers. March 8 International Women's Day 10 important women in history.
The day of March 8 has been declared International Women's Day. This day symbolizes the militancy and solidarity for women. A day not to be overlooked. It is important to honor this day. Women should certainly be put in the spotlight. That can be done in many ways. Women have always played an important role in history. That is why I have highlighted 10 striking women from history in this article.
It certainly occupies an important place in the religious world. She is the epitome of modesty, dedication and faith. In the Roman Catholic Church she is the most important figure next to Jesus and the Pope. And whether you value it or not, she is known all over the world, even if she lived more than 2000 years ago.
Although she had only a short life, she lived the given time very intensely and quickly. At the age of 17 and disguised as a man, Joan of Arc the commander of the French army. Just a year later, she had proven herself to be a good strategist and an even better fighter in the French army. Numerous victories of the English army were credited to this young woman.
Born to parents who were fairly wealthy farmers in rural Orleans, she claimed to owe her victories to God. However, at the very young age of 19, she was burned alive for heresy. Only 25 years later was her innocence recognized and she was given the predicate:“innocent.”
Today, the right-wing nationalist French party Front National claims Joan of Arc as the protector of the country against foreign influences. Their emblem of a tricolor flame refers to her martyrdom. The party uses Jeanne's image in party publications and organizes demonstrations at its statues.
A controversial woman about whom the opinions are quite divergent:one praises her, the other thinks she is evil itself. Catherine was a master of politics, diplomacy and intrigue, almost surpassing herself. Although near the throne, she has never sat on the throne herself. She ruled through her sons who were too weak to resist their overbearing mother. As a result, Catherine's sons were nothing but puppets in her hands.
On Bartholomew's Night she plotted a veritable mass murder of the Protestants who were guests at her daughter's wedding. Her combativeness against non-Catholics, in which she actually dealt with corpses, and her close contact with an astrologer have caused the opinions about her to vary so much. However, many are of the opinion that she could not act otherwise, given the time and circumstances under which this woman had to live.
The beautiful queen of Egypt is one of the most famous women in history. That is also the reason why I have included her in my blog March 8 International Women's Day 10 remarkable women from history. Her fame extends to all corners of the world. Her life is richly documented, her achievements as well as her failures are widely known. Cleopatra's story has fascinated many writers and artists over the centuries. No doubt much of her appeal lay in her legend as a great temptress. She was able to bind the two most powerful men of her time (Caesar, with whom she had an extramarital affair and Antonius, whom she later married).
As the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, who actually also deserves a place on this list, she is mainly known for her life as a 'single person'. At a time when the woman was supposed to marry and have offspring, Elizabeth I chose a "virgin" and single life. Despite this controversy, she is described as one of the most important rulers in English history.
During her reign, England's national consciousness was heightened, pushing English Catholics into a second-class position as potential traitors to the country. This continues to this day:the English head of state is not allowed to be a Catholic, nor to marry a Catholic. Despite the many controversies surrounding her, including the murder of her own niece, the Scottish Queen Mary, most generally agree that England flourished under her power.
A woman far ahead of her time:Born in Poland in 1867, she was a genius in physics and chemistry. She was not only the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize, but is also the only woman to receive it twice. She was a true pioneer of radioactivity and the discoverer of polonium and radium. This made her the founder of contemporary medicine, especially in the field of radiation against cancer. Unfortunately, she herself died at the age of 66 from the effects of leukemia, probably resulting from her continued exposure to higher doses of radioactive radiation.
A very different woman was Mother Teresa, who has devoted her life to caring for the poor and the underprivileged. Mother Theresa was a nun who wanted to work as a missionary from an early age. She left her parental home to open a charity in Calcutta (India) and never returned. Her work in India, but also in many other countries has proved invaluable.
She opened hospitals, orphanages, care homes and many other facilities for the poor and underprivileged. What once started as a work of 13 nuns has now grown into a network of more than 4000 nuns who continue the work of Mother Theresa, among the poor. However, there have also been less positive aspects to her work:for example, she saw no benefit in administering painkillers, as this was a way to get closer to God.
Although well known, Marie Antoinette has also been a very dubious woman. Marie Antoinette's personality is a hot topic. There are writers who seek in her character the cause of the fall of the French monarchy. In her own time she was widely criticized and vilified. For others she was and is considered a saint and martyr.
Her penchant for luxury was probably the cause of the outbreak of the French Revolution. Although she showed no interest at all in politics, she did not delve into reading, but rather cared about pleasures, she constantly meddled with the throne. Her husband Louis XVI sat on the throne. She owes her fame mainly to her execution during the French Revolution. An act that made many people happy.
A very special woman who should definitely not be missing from this list. She was India's first female Prime Minister for 15 years. A great achievement for a woman. Through her many works and efforts the Indian standard of living was raised. Food production also increased and at the same time she tackled illiteracy. Sadly, her own sentries killed Indira Gandhi.
A very famous and striking woman from history. A Dutch woman who led a very immoral and extravagant life as an exotic dancer and prostitute. During World War I, she was suspected of working as a spy for both the French and the Germans. Despite all the objections on her part, she was not believed and was eventually shot in 1917. Thanks to this execution, however, she began to gain more and more fame. To date, no one has found out whether she really was a spy or not.
Of course, this list is by no means complete. There are plenty of other women who should also have a spot on this list. This includes women such as:Florence Nightingale, Aung San Suu Kyi, Anne Frank, Elizabeth van Beieren (Sissi), Anne Boleyn and many more.
Yet it is not only these women who have influenced or changed history in one way or another:it is the ordinary, everyday women and mothers who often cause things to change. Maybe not on a large scale, but on a small scale where it is so important.
Just think of the 'ordinary' simple housewife and mother who accompanies her child(ren) until they can live independently. All women who rise up in war and fight for freedom. Women in extreme poverty who do everything they can to allow their child(ren) to survive. Women who want to stand up for their rights despite all the opposition.
It is precisely for this group of 'forgotten' women that 8 March has been declared International Women's Day † A day to remember all women in the world and to reflect on how important women are…
Did you know all the striking women I mentioned above? Which woman really deserves to be put in the spotlight March 8 International Women's Day?
