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| Women Who Ought To Be Famous | |
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It all started with Hypatia. A forum member who goes by the nom de 'puter "MokeleMbembe" posted in a thread about misogyny in literature and art:
Talking about hatred for women... Hypatia, the learned woman of Alexandria suffered a death that really embodies hatred for women. She was ripped apart while alive by an angry mob. Historians say that it was Christians who killed her because she was a pagan - but this is really not feasible. Christians themselves were persecuted at that time, and there is no record of another pagan being so killed by "Christians". I think it was a good excuse to kill a woman who dared to be a brilliant mathematician, philosopher when women were thought to be little more than cattle.
"Hopeless1976" replied:
I don't disagree that women have been persecuted throughout the years. However, I think we shouldn't overlook the genius of these women by dwelling on the few such as Hypatia: How about Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Queen Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great, Mary Shelley, the prophet Ruth, Cleopatra, Harriet Tubman
And "Stephen35110" added this thought:
It is true that some literature continues to depict violence against women for it's entertainment value(!)and this is heartbreaking. It contributes to a stereotype of women as victims. And we should continue to fight that. But along with that we should also fight to bring recognition to the women who made significant contributions to our society and culture. I would like to add the following women to your list:
Marie Curie and Jane Goodall - scientists
Georgia O"Keefe and Helen Frankenthaler - artists
I have heard of most of these women by now - but I remember in grade school history classes (many, many years ago) learning about only a few women: "Madame" Curie and Amelia Earhart, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. Oh, yes, and Carrie Nation, that silly woman who tried to ban alcohol. I don't even remember learning about Susan B. Anthony until that unfortunately-sized dollar coin came out. (I still have a few of those squirreled away somewhere, both out of gender loyalty and the conviction that they will be worth more than a dollar someday.) As people began adding to the list, I began to realize how very many "good women" had made significant contributions in the world - and how very few of them are included in our history studies. It became obvious that there are many more "notable women" yet to be discovered, obscured by the mists of history and previous historians' lack of interest in the contributions of women.
And so a new thread was started in the Women's Issues Forum: "Really Cool Women who ought to be famous." While it can be depressing to realize how many important contributions have been ignored by historians simply because they were made by women, it is also empowering to rectify that oversight by seeking out, and sharing these stories.
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