So many of the social life's aspects have changed for women in the years. Starting with the right for education and ending with gender equality - all of this didn't happen overnight, and many badass women had to sacrifice their personal lives for a greater cause. Women's Equality Day celebrated on August 26th in the US, commemorates the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting women the right to vote. It was certified in 1920, despite being introduced many years earlier in 1878, and since 1972, every president has published a proclamation for Women's Equality Day. Only because of the strong women in history we have reached this point in our society.

Starting from female Samurais in the early 1800s and ending with Stephanie Kwolek, who invented Kevlar (yes, a woman invented that!) this list of women who changed the world will shed some light on the 'weaker' gender. And without some of these pioneers, we wouldn't be this advanced in such spheres as neuro-surgeries, chemistry, and even programming.

Scroll down and take a look at our list of famous women in history. And, ladies, you might get inspired by these women in history to reach for your goals, no matter how impossible they might seem.

#1

A Woman Hitting A Neo-Nazi With Her Handbag In Växjö, Sweden (13 April, 1985)

A Woman Hitting A Neo-Nazi With Her Handbag In Växjö, Sweden (13 April, 1985)

Hans Runesson Report

LizBaruzzini
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read about this woman, she was actually a Holocaust survivor -- I have so much respect for her.

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#2

Marie Curie Was A Polish Physicist And Chemist Famous For Her Work On Radioactivity And Twice A Winner Of The Nobel Prize

Marie Curie Was A Polish Physicist And Chemist Famous For Her Work On Radioactivity And Twice A Winner Of The Nobel Prize

mariecurie-usa.org Report

KlaudiaBraun
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was polish not French at all. She married a French and worked there but never describ do herself as French

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#3

Kathrine Switzer Was The First Woman To Run The Boston Marathon (1967). When Organizer Jock Semple Realised A Woman Was Running He Tried To Tackle Her

Kathrine Switzer Was The First Woman To Run The Boston Marathon (1967). When Organizer Jock Semple Realised A Woman Was Running He Tried To Tackle Her

Harry Trask Report

StephanieBarr
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All honor, not only to her, but the other marathoners who protected her.

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#4

Margaret Heafield Was A Director Of Software Engineering For Nasa's Apollo Space Program (1969)

Margaret Heafield Was A Director Of Software Engineering For Nasa's Apollo Space Program (1969)

NASA Report

JessicaBabineau
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She wrote out by hand the mathematical sequence that enabled the Apollo mission to be successful. (That's what she's standing beside) . They said that she was so accurate they used to get her to double check the math once computers started doing it for the other scientists.

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#5

Russia-born Valentina Tereshkova Became The First Woman In Space Aboard The Vostok 6 (1963)

Russia-born Valentina Tereshkova Became The First Woman In Space Aboard The Vostok 6 (1963)

Sovfoto Report

RitaInina
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She is behind in points. Tattoo artist is more popular than the woman astronaut? Give me a break!

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#6

One Of The Onna-Bugeisha, Female Samurai Warrior Of The Upper Bushi (Samurai), Class In Feudal Japan (Late 1800's)

One Of The Onna-Bugeisha, Female Samurai Warrior Of The Upper Bushi (Samurai), Class In Feudal Japan (Late 1800's)

reddit.com Report

#7

Amelia Earhart Was The First Female Aviator To Fly Solo Across The Atlantic Ocean (1928)

Amelia Earhart Was The First Female Aviator To Fly Solo Across The Atlantic Ocean (1928)

Los Angeles Times photographic archive Report

sydney
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Women have always been pioneers in aviation they just don;t get the press or the credit they deserve. Amelia Earhart

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#8

These Women Were Firefighters At Pearl Harbor (1941)

These Women Were Firefighters At Pearl Harbor (1941)

Hawaii War Records Depository Report

DebFick
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm- "These WOMEN were FEMALE firefighters". Would a headline read "These MEN were MALE firefighters"???

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#9

Komako Kimura, A Prominent Japanese Suffragist Marched On Fifth Avenue In New York City Demanding The Right To Vote (27 October, 1917)

Komako Kimura, A Prominent Japanese Suffragist Marched On Fifth Avenue In New York City Demanding The Right To Vote (27 October, 1917)

Corbis-Bettmann Report

#10

Eliza Leonida Zamfirescu, The First Woman Engineer In The World

Eliza Leonida Zamfirescu, The First Woman Engineer In The World

en.wikipedia.org Report

KateYoung
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awesome - I bet she met resistance and hate at many turns.

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#11

Rosa Louise Mccauley Parks - Civil Rights Activist

Rosa Louise Mccauley Parks - Civil Rights Activist

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PetraMiddendorp
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She had two strikes against her, she was a woman and she was black and what she did took so much courage. She did not fight for prestige, but for justice

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#12

Sofia Ionescu-ogrezeanu (25 April 1920 – 21 March 2008) Was A Romanian Neurosurgeon And Is Cons

Sofia Ionescu-ogrezeanu (25 April 1920 – 21 March 2008) Was A Romanian Neurosurgeon And Is Cons

www.snipview.com Report

Claudia
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Romania-born, Sofia Ionescu, is the one female neurosurgeon who was nominated as the first neurosurgeon in the world. She worked in the field for 47 years, performing all the procedures known at that time.

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#13

Anne Frank Was A Jewish Diarist And Writer

Anne Frank Was A Jewish Diarist And Writer

angelusnews.com Report

cookiemonster
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

who, totally unimportant fact, lived during the holocaust and was eventually killed by the Nazis a couple of months before the killing stopped.

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#14

A 106-year-old Woman Who Protected Her Home With A Rifle, In Armenia (1990)

A 106-year-old Woman Who Protected Her Home With A Rifle, In Armenia (1990)

United Nations Report

#15

Jane Goodall, Leading Primatologist And Conservationalist

Jane Goodall, Leading Primatologist And Conservationalist

TheJaneGoodallInstitute Report

#16

Nadia Comaneci - The First Women To Score A Perfect 10 In Gymnastics At The Olympic Games

Nadia Comaneci - The First Women To Score A Perfect 10 In Gymnastics At The Olympic Games

en.wikipedia.org Report

#17

Ana Aslan (romania) - She Is Considered To Be A Pioneer Of Gerontology And Geriatrics.

Ana Aslan (romania) - She Is Considered To Be A Pioneer Of Gerontology And Geriatrics.

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Claudia
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She developed the anti-aging drug Gerovital H3 (1952)

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#18

Maud Stevens Wagner Was The First Known Female Tattoo Artist In The United States (1907)

Maud Stevens Wagner Was The First Known Female Tattoo Artist In The United States (1907)

Library of Congress Report

Maureen Mower
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never gotten a tattoo, but I do like her taste in art... dragons, horses, butterflies, a girl with 2 lions as friends, a hummingbird, etc. Plus, if she did all that on herself, that is pretty amazing on it's own... how does one tattoo the back of one's own arm, for instance?

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#19

Mary Winsor Holding Suffrage Prisoners Banner In Washington D.C. (1917)

Mary Winsor Holding Suffrage Prisoners Banner In Washington D.C. (1917)

Harris & Ewing Report

sw32426
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You go girl!!!!! One of the best inspirations!

#20

Sarla Thakral Was First Indian Woman To Fly. She Earned An Aviation Pilot License In 1936 At The Age Of 21 And Flew A Gypsy Moth Solo

Sarla Thakral Was First Indian Woman To Fly. She Earned An Aviation Pilot License In 1936 At The Age Of 21 And Flew A Gypsy Moth Solo

unknown Report

#21

Annette Kellerman Promoted Women’s Right To Wear A Fitted One-Piece Bathing Suit (1907). She Was Arrested For Indecency

Annette Kellerman Promoted Women’s Right To Wear A Fitted One-Piece Bathing Suit (1907). She Was Arrested For Indecency

loc.gov Report

guess
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they knew how people dressed now......... I dunno, I think one pieces are cool and whatever but some of the ways people dress at the beach are my definition of "indecent"... but I guess it's their right and all so go Mz. Kellerman! (still no sarcasm here)

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#22

Muslim Woman Covers The Yellow Star Of Her Jewish Neighbor With Her Veil (1941)

Muslim Woman Covers The Yellow Star Of Her Jewish Neighbor With Her Veil (1941)

unknown Report

#23

Bertha Von Suttner - First Woman Peace Activist And First Woman To Be Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Bertha Von Suttner - First Woman Peace Activist And First Woman To Be Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

anno.onb.ac.at Report

AdrianaCuevasZambrano
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just discovered his bio, wonderful woman !

#24

Suu Kyi (burma) Was Under House Arrest For 15 Yrs For Her Pre-democracy Campaigning.

Suu Kyi (burma) Was Under House Arrest For 15 Yrs For Her Pre-democracy Campaigning.

Emlii.com Report

#25

Marina Ginestà Was A French Veteran Of The Spanish Civil War. This Is Her Most Famous Picture At The Top Of Hotel Colón In Barcelona (21 July, 1936)

Marina Ginestà Was A French Veteran Of The Spanish Civil War. This Is Her Most Famous Picture At The Top Of Hotel Colón In Barcelona (21 July, 1936)

Juan Guzmán Report

#26

Taramon Bibi Is One Of The Two Female Freedom Fighters In Bangladesh

Taramon Bibi Is One Of The Two Female Freedom Fighters In Bangladesh

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#27

Voting Activist Annie Lumpkins At The Little Rock City Jail (10 July, 1961)

Voting Activist Annie Lumpkins At The Little Rock City Jail (10 July, 1961)

APictureFromThisDay Report

Maureen Mower
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the suitcase? Had she been in the jail that long - or was she expecting to go to jail for that long?

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#28

The First European Woman Ever To Obtain A License And A Phd In Law From The University Of Paris

The First European Woman Ever To Obtain A License And A Phd In Law From The University Of Paris

en.wikipedia.org Report

Claudia
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sarmiza Bilcescu, a Romanian. In 1887 she took her license degree (BA) in Law and three years later her PhD in Law

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#29

Ftima El Fihria The Founder Of The First University In The World Fes Morocco

Ftima El Fihria The Founder Of The First University In The World Fes Morocco

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MaxWinkler
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

contrast this with the current deadly proscription against women learning under radical Islam.

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#30

Stephanie Kwolek, Inventor Of Kevlar

Stephanie Kwolek, Inventor Of Kevlar

APphoto Report

MarcoBello
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of the inventions that most surprise me because it involves innovation in its purest form under a very elegant and clever simplicity. It is a very, very smart invention. I never knew who invented it. Now I know. :)

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#31

Gertrude Caroline Ederle Became The First Woman To Swim Across The English Channel (1926)

Gertrude Caroline Ederle Became The First Woman To Swim Across The English Channel (1926)

Library of Congress Report

#32

Florence Nightingale:1st Nurse To Teach Basic Sanitation Betwn Patients. 1820-1910 Lady W/ Lamp

Florence Nightingale:1st Nurse To Teach Basic Sanitation Betwn Patients. 1820-1910 Lady W/ Lamp

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#33

NASA Astronaut Anna Lee Fisher Became The First Mother In Space (1984)

NASA Astronaut Anna Lee Fisher Became The First Mother In Space (1984)

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#34

Maria Teresa De Filippis, First Female Formula 1 Driver (1958)

Maria Teresa De Filippis, First Female Formula 1 Driver (1958)

luimartins.tumblr.com Report

#35

Ellen O'neal, One Of The Greatests Female Freestyle Skateboarders In The World (1970)

Ellen O'neal, One Of The Greatests Female Freestyle Skateboarders In The World (1970)

imgur.com Report

#36

Women's Liberation Coalition Marching For Equal Pay (1970)

Women's Liberation Coalition Marching For Equal Pay (1970)

photosofwar.net Report

#37

A Female Lockheed Employee Works On One In Burbank, California (1944)

A Female Lockheed Employee Works On One In Burbank, California (1944)

Lockheed Martin Report

BoredHistorian
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People need to stop putting the word "female" before the job. No one says male doctor or male lawyer!

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#38

Ada Lovelace - First Programmer In History

Ada Lovelace - First Programmer In History

wikipedia.org Report

MonikaLantos
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She is my favourite because I am a woman and a computer programmer and I often meet people who find strange that a woman is capable of doing this. Even other women are surprised.

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#39

These Four Female Pilots Leaving Their Plane At The Four-Engine School At Lockbourne AAF (Early 1940s)

These Four Female Pilots Leaving Their Plane At The Four-Engine School At Lockbourne AAF (Early 1940s)

U.S. Air Force Report

#40

Jeanne Manford With Her Son Morty, Foreground, Marching In The New York City Gay Pride Parade (1972)

Jeanne Manford With Her Son Morty, Foreground, Marching In The New York City Gay Pride Parade (1972)

PFLAG Report

#41

Leola N. King, America's First Female Traffic Cop, Washington D.C. (1918)

Leola N. King, America's First Female Traffic Cop, Washington D.C. (1918)

Library Of Congress Report

#42

Girls Deliver Ice. Heavy Work That Formerly Belonged To Men Only Is Being Done By Girls (16 September, 1918)

Girls Deliver Ice. Heavy Work That Formerly Belonged To Men Only Is Being Done By Girls (16 September, 1918)

The National Archives Catalog Report

Karis
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is awesome. i hate the steriotypes that women cant do “ male” jobs because they would be bad at it. but turns out women are usually better at it than men😂😂

#43

Milunka Savić Was A Serbian War Heroine Who May Be The Most-decorated Female Combatant Ever.

Milunka Savić Was A Serbian War Heroine Who May Be The Most-decorated Female Combatant Ever.

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JelenaLazić
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Serbian Mulan. At first they thought she's a man

#44

Smith College Class Of 1902 Basketball Team - Senda Berenson introduced and adapted the rules for women's basketball

Smith College Class Of 1902 Basketball Team - Senda Berenson introduced and adapted the rules for women's basketball

unknown Report

microsaurio
Community Member
8 years ago

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A ball in a basket. That makes sense.

#45

Angela Davis (b. January 26, 1944), American Political Activist, Scholar, Author & Feminist.

Angela Davis (b. January 26, 1944), American Political Activist, Scholar, Author & Feminist.

Atlantablackstar.com Report

Simon Kendra
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Angela Davis, who condoned communism dictatorship in Europe, approved of state persecution of democratic freedom fighters and said they “deserved to stay in prison” because they fought against her beloved oppressive murderous communist leaders.

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#46

Kate Sheppard, Leader Of Womens Suffrage In New Zealand, The 1st Country To Give Women The Vote

Kate Sheppard, Leader Of Womens Suffrage In New Zealand, The 1st Country To Give Women The Vote

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#47

Hattie Larlham Pioneered Specialized Care For Developmentally Disabled Children.

Hattie Larlham Pioneered Specialized Care For Developmentally Disabled Children.

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Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Circa 1977. Started a foundation for this in 1961. Larlham drew national attention for her efforts and eventually served as a disabilities issue advisor to U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Her accomplishments also earned her a place in the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. She died in 1996.

#48

Claudette Colvin - The First Woman To Refuse To Give Up Her Seat On A Montgomery, Al Bus

Claudette Colvin - The First Woman To Refuse To Give Up Her Seat On A Montgomery, Al Bus

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Tania-Briannë Fox
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Miss Colvin is the real Rosa Parks. She was replaced by Miss Parks for marketability reasons. Miss Colvin had a child out of wedlock (she was molested as a teen) and she was darker skinned than Miss Parks. It was Miss Colvin's defiant stance on a bus that inspired the Rosa Parks publicity stunt. Miss Parks was brave, horrible things could have happened to her in retaliation for standing her ground. But she was a stand-in for Miss Colvin, whose experience was not staged but a fact of her everyday life. Read about her.

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#49

Billie Jean King. Us Tennis Legend & Became The First Prominent Female Athlete To Come Out.

Billie Jean King. Us Tennis Legend & Became The First Prominent Female Athlete To Come Out.

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#50

Mileva Maric, Serbian Physicist, Einsteins Wife. Worthy "his" Nobel Prize.

Mileva Maric, Serbian Physicist, Einsteins Wife. Worthy "his" Nobel Prize.

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See Also on Bored Panda
#51

Sybil Ludington, Alerted Colonial Forces Of The British, Riding Twice The Distance Of Revere.

Sybil Ludington, Alerted Colonial Forces Of The British, Riding Twice The Distance Of Revere.

en.wikipedia.org Report

Tamra Smith
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And yet I was never taught about her in school...figures.

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#52

Eliska Junkova: Czech Automobile Racer In Her Bugatti. One Of The Greatest Grand Prix Drivers.

Eliska Junkova: Czech Automobile Racer In Her Bugatti. One Of The Greatest Grand Prix Drivers.

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#53

Political Activist Dr. Wangari Maathai Founded The Green Belt Movement, 1977.

Political Activist Dr. Wangari Maathai Founded The Green Belt Movement, 1977.

takingrootfilm.com Report

Ikechukwu Ojo
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kenyan professor who led a massive movement, that had massive effect on both Nature and the nation of Kenya The planting of trees, to help stabilize the environment.

#54

Imone Segouin, The 18 Year Old French Résistance Fighter (1944)

Imone Segouin, The 18 Year Old French Résistance Fighter (1944)

rarehistoricalphotos.com Report

#55

Among The Prisoners Taken On Walcheren Was This Dutch Woman With Her Husband, A German Solder, Whom She Refused To Leave (1944)

Among The Prisoners Taken On Walcheren Was This Dutch Woman With Her Husband, A German Solder, Whom She Refused To Leave (1944)

Royal Air Force official photographer Report

#56

Rachl Carson. Author Of "silent Spring" (1962) And Mother Of The Enviromental Movement

Rachl Carson. Author Of "silent Spring" (1962) And Mother Of The Enviromental Movement

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MPaulaWhelan
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

... and now we have neonicitinoids (?sp) compromising bee colonies.

#57

Irena Sendlerowa - Woman Who Smuggled Approximately 2,500 Jewish Children Out Of The Warsaw Ghett

Irena Sendlerowa - Woman Who Smuggled Approximately 2,500 Jewish Children Out Of The Warsaw Ghett

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#58

Julia Morgan, Architect, 1st Woman To Graduate From The Ecole Des Beaux Arts De Paris

Julia Morgan, Architect, 1st Woman To Graduate From The Ecole Des Beaux Arts De Paris <