Our Heroines
Women We Admire. Women That Inspire.
let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”
– Ayn Rand.
Women belong in any profession or industry that they choose. Yet, many “non-traditional” industries still remain heavily male dominated. While women have shown that they can do any job the reality is that in numerous professions barriers have been created to actively keep them out. We want to tell the stories of women that charged ahead anyway whether in construction, space exploration or any other field. These remarkable women are our HEROINES, united in their fight to control their own destiny. Let their stories inspire you and show you that nobody can stop you.
but she must have roses, too.”
ROSE SCHNEIDERMAN
LABOR LEADER
Women work just as hard as men do and deserve equal pay. The internationally recognized powerhouse by the name of Rose Schneiderman who fought for this and many other working-women’s rights is a person you should never forget. A Polish Jewish immigrant whose family migrated to New York City's Lower East Side in 1890, Schneiderman was the daughter of a seamstress who struggled financially after the sudden passing of her husband. Rose had to quit school at the age of thirteen to help support her family by taking up work as a lining stitcher where she witnessed the stark difference between men’s and women’s rights. Rose passionately organized the first... ReadMore
Women work just as hard as men do and deserve equal pay. The internationally recognized powerhouse by the name of Rose Schneiderman who fought for this and many other working-women’s rights is a person you should never forget. A Polish Jewish immigrant whose family migrated to New York City's Lower... ReadMore
Women work just as hard as men do and deserve equal pay. The internationally recognized powerhouse by the name of Rose Schneiderman who fought for this and many other working-women’s rights is a person you should never forget. A Polish Jewish immigrant whose family migrated to New York City's Lower East Side in 1890, Schneiderman was the daughter of a seamstress who struggled financially after the sudden passing of her husband. Rose had to quit school at the age of thirteen to help support her family by taking up work as a lining stitcher where she witnessed the stark difference between men’s and women’s rights. Rose passionately organized the first female chapter of the Cloth Hat and Cap Makers Union as a twenty-one year old. The infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, in which 146 mainly female immigrant garment workers died because of unsafe working conditions further fueled her activism. By the mid-1920s, she had risen through the ranks of the New York Women’s Trade Union League and had become a nationally known figure who fought furiously for safe workplace conditions and general worker’s rights. Schneiderman was also an instrumental figure in the “Uprising of the 20,000”, the largest strike by American women workers at the time. Her obituary in the New York Times in 1972 rightfully declared that this HEROINE had done
"more to upgrade the dignity and living standards of working women than any other American."
Visit the resources below to learn more about this HEROINE:
https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/schneiderman-rose
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Schneiderman
Book memoir : https://amazon.com/All-one-Rose-Schneiderman/dp/B0006BRMHW
Brief documentary about Uprising of the 20,000 : https://youtube.com/watch?v=8g3R-SKnxgA
Podcast about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire : https://spectacularfailures.org/episode/2019/07/29/the-inferno-that-transformed-american-labor
strong - even stronger than men - they
work in the fields right along with the men”
DOLORES HUERTA
ACTIVIST
¡Sí, Se Puede! - Yes, we can!” is a phrase that has been used by millions around the world, even presidents. Yet, it was originally coined by labor leader and women’s rights activist Dolores Huerta who is probably best known for her lifelong dedication to improve the working conditions of farmworkers. Dolores was born in New Mexico on April 10, 1930, the second of three children. Her father, a farmworker and miner that became a state legislator, and her mother who was active in her church early on planted the seed to use her voice to create change. Working briefly as a teacher in Stockton, California Dolores could no longer... ReadMore
¡Sí, Se Puede! - Yes, we can!” is a phrase that has been used by millions around the world, even presidents. Yet, it was originally coined by labor leader and women’s rights activist Dolores Huerta who is probably best known for her lifelong dedication to improve the working conditions of... ReadMore
¡Sí, Se Puede! - Yes, we can!” is a phrase that has been used by millions around the world, even presidents. Yet, it was originally coined by labor leader and women’s rights activist Dolores Huerta who is probably best known for her lifelong dedication to improve the working conditions of farmworkers. Dolores was born in New Mexico on April 10, 1930, the second of three children. Her father, a farmworker and miner that became a state legislator, and her mother who was active in her church early on planted the seed to use her voice to create change. Working briefly as a teacher in Stockton, California Dolores could no longer bear to see many of her students’ suffering and dedicated her life to fight for just conditions of farm laborers, many of them Asian and Latino immigrants. After meeting her lifelong friend Cesar Chavez together they formed the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) in 1962, the country’s first of its kind. Later in life she would join forces with fellow feminist Gloria Steinem whose budding friendship led to advocating the cause for women’s rights including within the farm workers’ movement. Huerta, a strong advocate for non-violence was the victim of a life threatening assault at the age of 58. But that didn’t stop this HEROINE. Dolores received the Presidential Medal of Freedom by resident Obama and continues her charge for workers’ rights as well as gender and ethnic equality through the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
Visit the resources below to learn more about this HEROINE:
https://doloreshuerta.org/dolores-huerta/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_Huerta
https://biography.com/activist/dolores-huerta
https://ted.com/speakers/dolores_huerta
Movie : https://amazon.com/Dolores-Huerta/dp/B07F57S661
Book: "The Book of Gutsy Women"
can do anything. … Enough of them do that
they're challenging the powers that be.”
JOANN JACOBS
FIREFIGHTER
JoAnn Jacobs is no stranger to being the first in a job not considered “traditional” for women. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Joann was the first female baggage handler for Northwest Airlines at JFK Airport. But that is not where she left her biggest mark. After a few years, being unable to join the New York Police Department due to a hiring freeze JoAnn heard about openings in the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). When she learned about a class action suit brought by legendary firefighter Brenda Berkman to end gender-based discrimination within FDNY she joined the cause. The same year the women won the lawsuit in 1982... ReadMore
JoAnn Jacobs is no stranger to being the first in a job not considered “traditional” for women. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Joann was the first female baggage handler for Northwest Airlines at JFK Airport. But that is not where she left her biggest mark. After a few years,... ReadMore
JoAnn Jacobs is no stranger to being the first in a job not considered “traditional” for women. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Joann was the first female baggage handler for Northwest Airlines at JFK Airport. But that is not where she left her biggest mark. After a few years, being unable to join the New York Police Department due to a hiring freeze JoAnn heard about openings in the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). When she learned about a class action suit brought by legendary firefighter Brenda Berkman to end gender-based discrimination within FDNY she joined the cause. The same year the women won the lawsuit in 1982 Jacobs became one of the first eleven female graduates from the Fire Academy and the first African American woman firefighter in NYC. Being a New York City firefighter is tough but being the only woman alongside men can be unimaginably harder. A month after having been assigned to Engine Company 324 in Queens, JoAnn experienced her first fire. By holding her own, working hard and being a true team player she solidified herself and gained the respect of the male firefighters. Over the course of her career JoAnn climbed the ladder and in 1992 became only the second woman to be promoted to the rank of New York City fire marshal. When JoAnn retired in November 2000 after what she called "20 of the best years of my life" this incredible HEROINE had saved and inspired countless women and men.
Visit the resources below to learn more about this HEROINE:
https://talkinghistory.org/sisters/jacobs.html
https://womenyoushouldknow.net/first-african-american-woman-promoted-rank-fdny-fire-lieutenant-12-years/
https://talkinghistory.org/sisters/probies.html
https://talkinghistory.org/sisters/oh_transcripts/joann_jacobs_interview_2004.pdf
https://amazon.com/Sisters-Brotherhoods-Organizing-Equality-Palgrave/dp/0230619185
https://youtube.com/watch?v=cI6Pv9uWTFM
https://youtube.com/watch?v=kYp5GWgZCEk&feature=relmfu
https://youtube.com/watch?v=2Ox8ikBiReM&feature=relmfu
opportunities to come. Get up and make them.”
SARAH BREEDLOVE
ENTREPRENEUR & PHILANTHROPIST
For many women their hair is their crown. But what do you do when a scalp disorder causes hair loss? You get up to create a solution, sell it to the world and along the way become the first self-made female African American millionaire. That is the story of Sarah Breedlove or Madam C.J. Walker as she is known. During an era when women, particularly black, faced unimaginable hurdles in a business world dominated by men she became one of the most successful entrepreneurs of her time. Yet Sarah’s early life was far from easy. Born in 1867 on a Louisiana cotton plantation as the daughter of former slaves she... ReadMore
For many women their hair is their crown. But what do you do when a scalp disorder causes hair loss? You get up to create a solution, sell it to the world and along the way become the first self-made female African American millionaire. That is the story of Sarah... ReadMore
For many women their hair is their crown. But what do you do when a scalp disorder causes hair loss? You get up to create a solution, sell it to the world and along the way become the first self-made female African American millionaire. That is the story of Sarah Breedlove or Madam C.J. Walker as she is known. During an era when women, particularly black, faced unimaginable hurdles in a business world dominated by men she became one of the most successful entrepreneurs of her time. Yet Sarah’s early life was far from easy. Born in 1867 on a Louisiana cotton plantation as the daughter of former slaves she became an orphan at age seven. Working as a farm laborer and laundress she got married at only fourteen years of age but became a widow shortly after giving birth to her only daughter A'Lelia. When later in life she found a treatment to prevent hair loss her then husband encouraged Sarah to start a company. An innovative marketing approach propelled strong demand and in less than a decade Madam C.J. had built a business empire that employed forty thousand women and men. Yet Sarah didn’t stop there. She used her new found resources and platform to become an outspoken philanthropist and civil rights activist who invested in education and fought racism. In 1917, Sarah even traveled to the White House as part of a delegation to petition President Wilson to make lynching a federal crime. In a true rags to riches story this incredible HEROINE changed the lives of women and men from their scalp to their toes.
Visit the resources below to learn more about this HEROINE:
https://madamcjwalker.com/
https://biography.com/inventor/madam-cj-walker
https://womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/madam-cj-walker
https://history.com/topics/black-history/madame-c-j-walker
https://barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-gutsy-women-hillary-rodham-clinton/1132856
https://stitcher.com/podcast/wondery/american-innovations/e/59546274?autoplay=true
I was and what I could produce.”
TONI STONE
PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER
Toni Stone did not play in a “League of their Own”. Instead she chose to play in a professional baseball big-league with and against men. Born Marcenia Lyle Stone, she was determined from a young age not to let gender separate her from her dreams and ultimately succeeded when she became the first woman to play professional baseball. As an African American who during an era of segregation was prohibited from playing in white leagues she made her debut playing second base for the Negro Leagues’ Indianapolis Clowns in 1953. Often taunted by her teammates; their cruel behavior only fueled her motivation. Toni finished her career with a batting average... ReadMore
Toni Stone did not play in a “League of their Own”. Instead she chose to play in a professional baseball big-league with and against men. Born Marcenia Lyle Stone, she was determined from a young age not to let gender separate her from her dreams and ultimately succeeded when she... ReadMore
Toni Stone did not play in a “League of their Own”. Instead she chose to play in a professional baseball big-league with and against men. Born Marcenia Lyle Stone, she was determined from a young age not to let gender separate her from her dreams and ultimately succeeded when she became the first woman to play professional baseball. As an African American who during an era of segregation was prohibited from playing in white leagues she made her debut playing second base for the Negro Leagues’ Indianapolis Clowns in 1953. Often taunted by her teammates; their cruel behavior only fueled her motivation. Toni finished her career with a batting average that rivaled many of her male counterparts. One of her most memorable moments was a hit into center field off a fast ball by legendary pitcher Satchel Paige. This remarkable HEROINE went on to be honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991 and inducted into the Women’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. Long forgotten, Toni’s story of determination to overcome hardship, discrimination and to play the sport she loved was finally brought to life in an Off-Broadway play.
Visit the links below to learn more about this HEROINE:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toni_Stone
https://nytimes.com/2019/06/11/theater/toni-stone-baseball.html
https://encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-andbooks/stone-toni-1921-1996
https://britannica.com/biography/Toni-Stone
https://roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/2018-2019-season/toni-stone/
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