Throughout history, women have made groundbreaking contributions to science, often overcoming significant barriers and discrimination. Despite facing exclusion from universities, research institutions, and professional recognition, these remarkable women persevered and made discoveries that changed our understanding of the world. Their dedication to scientific inquiry paved the way for future generations of female scientists and left […]
Keri Lynn Engel
Juanita Jackson Mitchell: Breaking Barriers in Law and Civil Rights
Juanita Jackson Mitchell was a trailblazing civil rights lawyer who broke through racial and gender barriers to become the first African American woman to practice law in Maryland. Born into a family synonymous with civil rights activism, she carried forward a legacy of fighting for justice while forging her own remarkable path in the legal […]
When Did Marital Rape Become a Crime?
Marital rape is committed when a person forces their spouse to take part in sexual acts without their consent. It is still rape if consent is obtained by coercion or out of fear. Though opinion polls reveal that many people consider marital rape to be less harmful than rape by a stranger, research shows the […]
Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, Marie Antoinette’s favorite portraitist
A few years ago, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art held a retrospective of Louise-Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun’s oeuvre. Reviewers gave the exhibit so much praise that, despite never having heard of the artist, I went to see it. Vigée Le Brun’s paintings were riveting, her brief introductory biography intriguing. This unusual woman, I vowed […]
Shaping Space: Women Who Redefined Geography
Geography has long been shaped by the contributions of pioneering women who have overcome barriers and reshaped the field through groundbreaking research and scholarship. These women have played key roles in mapping uncharted territories, redefining spatial theory, and influencing environmental and social policies. Their work has not only expanded our understanding of the world but […]
Johanna van Gogh-Bonger: The Woman Behind Van Gogh
The following is an excerpt from “Saving Vincent” (She Writes Press, April 15, 2025), which tells the untold story of the woman who saved Vincent van Gogh’s art after his death, thoughtfully marketing his works and turning his once-failed career into one of art history’s biggest successes. “Saving Vincent” has been hailed as “intense, vibrant, […]
Amelia Bloomer: Temperance, Suffrage, and Rational Dress Advocate
Amelia Bloomer was a women’s rights activist famous for popularizing “bloomers.” A women’s rights activist, writer, and editor, she founded a newspaper called The Lily which she used to advocate for women’s suffrage and temperance as well as more sensible dress for women. The Early Life of Amelia Jenks Bloomer Amelia Bloomer was born Amelia […]
African American Women Firsts in Medicine
Though today over half of medical school graduates are women, it hasn’t been a level playing field for very long. Women have had to struggle and fight hard for the right to study and practice medicine, and Black women in America have had to face the double barriers of racism and sexism in this struggle. […]
The Rational Dress Reform Movement
How did women’s fashion change from the restrictive corsets and heavy petticoats worn for centuries, to the more comfortable and practical clothes available today? The Rational Dress Movement of the Victorian era played a small role in women casting off their cumbersome clothing. Women’s Fashion in the Victorian Era Women’s fashions in Victorian times emphasized […]
The Matilda Effect: Invisible Women in Science
Women have made contributions to science throughout history, despite facing a variety of challenges due to their gender. One such challenge, which affects the acknowledgment of women’s scientific achievements, is called the Matilda Effect. In order to fully appreciate the accomplishments of women in science and the barriers they have faced, it’s important to understand […]