5 Strong Women Who Made History

Thanks to strong women in history, women of today are finding it easier and easier to become CEOs, Founders, Freelancers, Engineers, etc. Here are five incredible women who made history by not taking no for an answer.

"Never interrupt someone doing something you said couldn’t be done."

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart

“As soon as we left the ground, I knew I had to fly.” Amelia Earhart made history by being the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She wasn't just the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, she was the second person as well, Charles Lindbergh being the first. She was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a military decoration awarded to participants of an aerial flight for their extraordinary achievements. Amelia Earhart still inspires women today as she paved a flight path for women to follow all those years ago.

"Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella is sometimes referred to as the “First Lady of Song” or the “Queen of Jazz” due to her outstanding singing voice. Growing up, she faced lots of hurdles; living in poverty, living on the streets, and more. It is thought that these trials are reflected in her bold and graceful tone. Amazingly, she could also imitate any of the instruments in an orchestra. She held the place of most popular female jazz singer for almost a century.

"There is no reason why anybody who has been concieved shouldn't be given the opportunity to be born and to live a happy life."

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Muta Maathai hailed from Kenya. She was an environmental political activist who started ‘The Green Movement’ - a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that focuses on environmental conservation as well as women's rights. In 2004, she became the first African woman to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for “sustainable development, democracy, and peace”. The Nobel Peace Committee also noted that “She stands at the front of the fight to promote ecologically viable social, economic and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa.”

Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.

Anne Frank

Anne Frank

Though her life was cut short at a very young age, her diary has become a shining light for women of all ages. The Diary of Anne Frank has been translated into over 50 languages. She was a Jewish girl based in Germany with her family, until Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany and took extremely inhumane measures in persecuting the Jewish citizens in collaboration with his Nazi government. These abominable acts forced her and family into hiding in a secret apartment in the building where her father worked. In her diary, she documented the happenings before and after going into hiding. Unfortunately, Anne was captured and sent to a concentration camp in Auschwitz. She was later transferred to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where she died.

"Have no fear of perfection; you'll never reach it."

Marie Curie

Marie Curie

A great physicist and chemist, Marie Curie discovered radioactive compounds, radium, and polonium. She conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. The first woman to ever win a Nobel prize, the only woman and the first person to win two awards–one in physics and the other in chemistry. Marie Curie made many more great discoveries that are still used today. Marie Curie’s foundation assists those with learning disabilities and has truly done some good in the world.

About Stephen’s Place

Stephen’s Place is an independent apartment community for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, located in Vancouver, WA (7 minutes from Portland, OR).

If you have a loved one with developmental or intellectual disabilities, who is looking for a community to live in, please contact us for more information. 

Stephen’s Place is a private-pay apartment community due to our state-of-the-art amenities and programs. We are a nonprofit and do not profit from our community. We are private pay because we spend more than some housing communities to ensure that our residents are comfortable and can safely live their lives with independence and dignity.