10 Women in History Who Were Way Ahead Of Their Time, Even Becoming Role Models For Future Generations
From 1890 to 1920, women rose to the top of a variety of social and political groups. The Progressive Era is the name given to this era. Progressive reformers aimed to eradicate political corruption, enhance people's quality of life, and step up government protection of the populace.
This wave of changes during the Progressive Era included the suffrage campaign. Leading suffragists were often involved in other progressive movements. Hull-House in Chicago was founded by Jane Addams as a settlement house that assisted and educated nearby immigrants. African Americans were not to be lynched, according to a movement organized by Ida B. Wells-Barnett.
In this article, we take a look back at 10 famous women who were so progressive at their time that they’ve become role models for the generations that come after.
#1 Catherine the Great
Source: © Hulu / YouTube
There are so many facets to Catherine the Great's narrative that we aren't even sure where to begin. There are many love desires and rebellions in life. The beginning of feminism in the Russian Empire is the subject of this historical play.
Source: © Follower of Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elde / Portrait of Catherine II of Russia / Kunsthistorisches Museum / Wikimedia Commons, © Public Domain
#2 Urraca of León
Source: © Amazon Prime Video UK / YouTube
Urraca was referred to be the Bold Queen for a reason. Urraca remarried after losing her first husband, brother, and father. Alfonso, her cousin, was her second husband, and the marriage wasn't particularly happy. Urraca abandoned her spouse after experiencing abuse. As a result, Alfonso went back to his house in Aragon and declared war on his wife.
Source: © El Cid / Amazon Prime Video
#3 Anne Boleyn
Source: © Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection / East News
The second and maybe most well-known of Henry VIII's six wives is Anne Boleyn. Her tale, which was interwoven with political intrigue and tragic personal events, captured the interest of several generations of filmmakers.
Source: © Movieclips Classic Trailers / YouTube
There was a brief marriage between them. Anne was charged with treason and magic even though she never gave birth to a prince. In the Middle Ages, the sole sanction for her crimes was her execution.
#4 Émilie du Châtelet
Source: © Unknown author / Madame Du Châtelet at her desk, detail / Private collection, Choisel, château de Breteuil / Wikimedia Commons, © Public Domain
She had a deep interest in mathematics, physics, and philosophy. Surprisingly, despite her busy schedule, her personal life remained unaffected. Voltaire was with her.
#5 Agnodice
Source: © Unknown author / Agnodice / Wikimedia Commons, © Public Domain
Agnodice was placed on trial once the public learned the truth. Fortunately, Agnodice and other Greek women were able to preserve their freedom to practice medicine because of her content patients.
#6 Marie Antoinette
Source: © Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection / East News
Marie Antoinette's life was brief yet eventful. Though not entirely accurate, her contemporaries believed that she was frivolous and gloomy. For instance, she never even said the famous saying "If they have no bread, let them eat cake"! From Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Confessions, which he authored in 1769, this adage was borrowed. Marie didn't even consider being married to the monarch at the moment; she was still living with her parents in Austria.
Source: © COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION/AMERICAN ZOETROPE / Album/EAST NEWS
#7 Clémentine Delait
Source: © Scherr / Madame Delait, the bearded lady of Plombières / Wikimedia Commons, © Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
Clémentine Delait needed 36 years to transform her "problem" into a strength. She diligently concealed her bushy beard since she was a little girl. A patron of the bar owned by Clémentine's family saw that she had hair on her face and promised to pay her if she could grow a full beard.
Source: © Alchetron / Type de carte que Madame Delait dédicassait en 1918 / Wikimedia Commons, © Public Domain
#8 Annette Kellerman
Source: © Keystone View Co. / American professional lightweight boxer Benny Leonard receives a mock punch from actress and swimmer Annette Kellerman, on page 5 of the January 28, 1922 / National Police Gazette / Wikimedia Commons, © Public Domain
As a "liberator of women's bodies," Annette Kellermann is well known. The fact is that Annette changed uncomfortable swimming trunks into a fashionable one-piece swimsuit that didn't restrict the motion of competitive swimmers.
Source: © Bain News Service, publisher / Miss Annette Kellerman / Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons, © Public Domain
#9 Delia Akeley
Source: © The American Museum journal / American Museum of Natural History / Flickr
Delia Akeley demonstrates that life continues after the age of 50. This woman was obviously quite active. She traveled across half of Africa, twice saved her husband's life from elephant attacks and malaria mosquito bites, and then filed for divorce over a monkey (her husband was strongly against pets).
Source: © The American Museum journal / American Museum of Natural History / Flickr
#10 Junko Tabei
Source: © Jaan Künnap / Wikimedia Commons, © CC BY-SA 4.0
When women in her native Japan were primarily viewed as housewives, Junko Tabei began her journey into the mountains. She also claimed that some men turned her down and assumed she was looking for a spouse. She didn't care, though. She founded The Ladies Climbing Club in Japan in 1969.
In 1975, Junko Tabei ascended the summit of Everest. Only males had scaled the peak before her. Her accomplishments didn't stop there, either. The highest peaks on 5 continents, the renowned 7 summits, were first scaled by Junko. Up until her last few days of life, she didn't leave the highlands.