Annually the world celebrates IWD (International Women’s Day) every 8th of March. And while we do our best to praise the women we love and value in our lives daily, having a day dedicated solely to them is essential. It’s why we have prepared this list of prominent women in history.
Today, we’ll look at five women who left their mark and positive impact on the halls of history. The communities they were in, and even the entire world, have benefited from their pure humanity, sheer bravery, and outstanding achievements. Let’s dive right into this list of notable women without further ado.
1. Sophia Blackmore (1857 – 1945)
Consigned by the Methodist Women’s Foreign Missionary Society to toil in the lands of Singapore, Sophia Blackmore (an Australian evangelist) founded two girls’ schools, which we now know as Fairfield Methodist Secondary School and Methodist Girl’s School. You might think that what she did wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but during her time, education didn’t have much weight on the Chinese, which meant it was the least of their priorities. She had to go door to door to sway families to allow their daughters to get a formal education. Sophia eventually got a batch of eight girls to enroll in Fairfield Methodist Secondary School in 1888, and they started their very first lesson then. Thanks to her contributions to Singapore’s growth, she was instated into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame in 2014.
2. Jane Austen (1775 – 1817)
With only six novels to her name, including Pride and Prejudice as her most famous novel, it’s impressive that Jane Austen, an English writer, is among the most acclaimed English literature writers. She was among the first writers to offer a new writing style and was an essential social commentator using her literary works. Nowadays, the books she wrote are read all around the globe, and they even have numerous adaptations.
3. Hajjah Fatimah (1754 – 1852)
Hailing from Malacca, Hajjah Fatimah came to Singapore during the 1800s and ended up marrying a Bugis prince who came from Celebes. She was a known philanthropist and tradeswoman, often giving back to society, and was also noted to be helping build houses for the impoverished. Hajjah even donated the land she owned to build a mosque, now called Hajjah Fatimah Mosque, located in Kampong Glam. The mosque is also the first mosque to be named after a woman in Singapore. Like Sophia Blackmore, Hajjah Fatimah was also inducted into the country’s Women’s Hall of Fame in 2014 for her philanthropic works.
4. Ada Lovelace (1815 – 1852)
Meet Ada Lovelace, an English mathematician who became the world’s first-ever computer programmer in 1843. She had the opportunity to work with Charles Babbage (an English polymath) on the very early model of his mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine. Ada wrote the world’s first machine algorithm for the Analytical Engine. Her work is inspiring and visionary for women because they had little access to education back then, let alone literacy for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects. Today, Ada Lovelace is acknowledged as a pioneer of modern computer science, a world-renowned woman of outstanding achievements, and one of the most prominent women in history.
5. Junko Tabei (1939 – 2016)
Like many before, Junko Tabei (a Japanese teacher, author, and mountaineer) deserves special recognition for International Women’s Day because her feats were extraordinary. “What feats does she have?” We hear you ask. She was the first woman to surmount the majestic yet perilous Mount Everest. She also climbed the highest peaks on every continent, called the Seven Summits. Junko wrote a book titled Honouring High Places, which contained her experience and memoirs, encouraging others by displaying her compassion and willpower. She returned to school to get a degree in Environmental Science in 2000 and was genuinely passionate about protecting natural surroundings, particularly around Everest. Junko was eventually appointed the director of the Himalayan Adventure Trust of Japan.
Well, there you have it, folks. We give special recognition to five unforgettable women for their achievements, personalities, impact, and womanhood. But remember: you don’t have to be a “Super Woman” to be celebrated. Every single woman in the world is unique and outstanding in their way. So, whether you’re one of the most prominent women in history or just a regular folk doing her best for herself or her family, we’d like to express our gratitude and appreciation for your presence.
Happy International Women’s Day to all the women out there! Now go on and enjoy your special day!
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