Six short biographies of ruthless female pirates across history.
american woman
Women in STEM: Chien-Shiung Wu
Before we get into the main article, I must admit that I don’t understand physics and I definitely skipped over most of the technical, sciency stuff when I was researching. Sorry. What I did understand, however, was that Chien-Shiung Wu was a genius who contributed enormously to our knowledge of physics, and that she truly … Continue reading Women in STEM: Chien-Shiung Wu
U is for… Undercover
The 1880s and 1890s were the heyday for undercover, stunt journalism. In a field where women had always been pushed to the margins, many female journalists found their niche in the stunt genre, going undercover in often dangerous situations, and later publishing scandalous exposés.
D is for… Daughters of Bilitis
In 1955, four lesbian couples came together in search of a space to socialise away from the fear of harassment and police raids. What began as a private club soon turned into a national organisation, which became crucial to the understand and acceptance of lesbianism in 1950s and 60s America.
C is for… Christine Jorgensen
Christine Jorgensen was a trailblazer for transgender people in the US. In 1952, she became one of the first people to undergo sex reassignment surgery, becoming an instant celebrity in America upon her return to the country. She was a cornerstone of the LGBT movement, and still remains an important figure in trans history.
Josephine Baker – Experiment in Brotherhood
Josephine Baker dedicated herself to breaking barriers and tackling injustice. One of the most famous performers in Europe, she also worked as a civil rights activist and was a spy for the French Resistance during World War II, a task she accomplished with ease despite her great fame.
Ada Blackjack – Alone in the Arctic
Ada Blackjack knew that the expedition she was to embark on was dangerous. Not five feet tall, slim, terrified of polar bears, and with no practical survival skills, she was the least likely Arctic explorer you could imagine. But no-one could imagine just how wrong the expedition would go, and at the end, only Blackjack would be left alive.
Claudette Colvin – The Girl Who Came Before
The name ‘Rosa Parks’ is one that has been - deservedly - heralded globally as one of the first voices in the 1950s American Civil Rights Movement. Not many people know, however, that she was not the first; a girl named Claudette Colvin had been arrested for the same act nine months prior.
Phillis Wheatley – A Revolutionary Poet
In 1761, a young girl of seven or eight was taken from her home and sold into slavery. She became Phillis Wheatley, a woman who is now known as the first African-American author of a published book of poetry.
Marlene Dietrich – Breaking the Gender Barrier
Marlene Dietrich spent the majority of her life occupying the stage and screen, her career spanning from the 1910s to the 1980s. While her name is now often associated with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and high society, this only tells half the story.