As Women’s History Month is upon us, I have been trying to learn more about the women who came before me. With this in mind, I decided to open my copy of “Bad Girls Throughout History” by Ann Shen, a book that highlights 100 women who changed the world. Here is a brief description of 5 women who stood out to me the most— although each and every one of them is amazing.
- Khutulun (1260-1306)
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Khutulun was one of the last known nomadic warrior princesses. She was the great-great-granddaughter of Ghenghis Khan and was known for her impressive horsemanship, archery and combat skills. When suitors would try to marry her, she would challenge them to a wrestling match. If she won, she would take one hundred of their horses, but she would marry whoever was able to beat her. No man was ever successful, and it is rumored that she acquired over ten thousand horses through the years. Also, her tribe believed that she was blessed by the spirits because of her abilities, so she often rode into battle with her father, and never lost.
- Aphra Behn (1640-1689)
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Aphra Behn is regarded as the first professional women’s writer. After rising to slight prominence in British Courts, she became a spy for King Charles II with the mission of turning enemy spies into double agents. While on assignment in Belgium, she became a playwright for a local theatre and began to write prose and poetry. She was unique for the 1600s because her topics mostly focused on political commentary on her beliefs and women’s sexuality. One of her most famous works told of a romance between an enslaved African Prince and the daughter of a general. She paved the way for future women writers but seems to have been all but forgotten in history.
- Belva Lockwood (1830-1917)
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Belva Lockwood is known to be the first woman to argue in front of the Supreme Court. She lobbied for equal pay for women in the federal government and opened a co-ed private school in Washington D.C. After being denied her law diploma because of her gender, she appealed to President Ulysses S. Grant and successfully became the 2nd woman to pass the bar in D.C. She lobbied to allow women lawyers to appear before the Supreme Court and often fought for women and minority rights in front of the Court herself. As if she wasn’t already cool enough, Lockwood also became the first woman to run for President with a complete campaign.
- Madame C.J. Walker (1867-1919)
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Madame C.J. Walker was the first female self-made millionaire. Before that, she worked as a laundress for less than $2 a day, so that she could send her daughter to school. Due to a lack of bathing facilities because of Jim Crow Laws, she began to lose clumps of her hair. After meeting a hair cosmetic saleswoman at the St. Louis World’s Fair, she became her associate and began selling hair growth products for black women. Then, she began selling her own line to clients and completely changed the market. She used black women for her before-and-after photos, which had never been done before, and employed over 3,000 people from around the country as sales associates. Also, she became the first large employer of black women and donated much of her fortune and profits to charity.
- Anna May Wong (1905-1961)
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Anna May Wong was one of the first internationally known Asian movie stars. She appeared in over 60 radio programs, stage productions and films, including one of the first movies shot in technicolor. However, she was often cast in stereotypical and villainous roles and was regularly passed over for major parts because Hollywood rarely cast non-white leads and the Hays Code prevented interracial romances on screen. She even started her own production company to get around the regulations, but it was unsuccessful. After ending her contract with Paramount Pictures and leaving Hollywood because of continuous discrimination, she moved abroad but was often rejected because she was perceived as “too American.” However, she moved back to the U.S. in the 50s and starred in a TV Show that was the first to star an Asian-American lead. She unfortunately died of a heart attack at the age of 61 before she reached the acclaim that she deserved.
If you want to learn more about historic women and the remarkable things that they did, I recommend reading “Bad Girls Throughout History” by Ann Shen. It can most likely be found at your nearest bookstore — remember to shop small, if possible— or at your local library. It is a light read that will make you more empowered and courageous! Plus, the illustrations are beautiful, which makes the book even better.