March Is Women’s History Month

Every March, we remember and celebrate the women who came before us, who fought for our rights and made it possible for us to vote, hold office, even have our own credit cards and bank accounts. This year is particularly special as it is the first year we have had a female Vice President in office!

Did you know?

  • Mary, Queen of Scots, was a golfer, possibly the first woman to play the sport.
  • The world's first novel, The Tale of Genji, published in AD 1000, was written by a woman, Murasaki Shikibu.
  • Women doctors are not a new phenomenon. The first female doctor in recorded history was Merit Ptah, who lived in Ancient Egypt circa 2700 BCE.
  • Kevlar, the material used in bulletproof vests, was invented by a woman, Stephanie Kwolek.
  • One of the most successful pirates of all time was a Chinese woman, Ching Shih, who commanded a fleet of over 1,800 ships.
  • Nana Asma'u was a Nigerian scholar in the late 18th century who believed strongly in educating women. She trained women teachers, called jaji, to travel the country and educate other women. The jaji are still around today! 

There are so many more amazing stories of women throughout history who defied gender expectations, broke glass ceilings, and challenged misogyny and patriarchy. Find out more with these great titles:

Women's History Month 2021 @ SCCLD






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