A Thank You to the Women of Our History | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

A Thank You to the Women of Our History

You have made many things possible for me.

31
A Thank You to the Women of Our History
pexels

While my goal was to write this near the beginning of March, there is never a bad time to write about women's history or the people in it. Now, I cannot begin to know every single woman who made history in our world, nor can I spend countless hours trying, but I can write a letter to the women of the world to say thank you.

To all the women who have ever, and are currently, making differences in the lives of people today: thank you.

Thank you for fighting to give me the right to vote. I am so grateful that on June 4th, 1919 congress passed the amendment that granted women the right to vote. And I am grateful that on August 18th, 1920 the amendment was ratified. To the women who were involved in this movement: thank you. You have made it easier for women to have the right to vote. You have also given me a sense of responsibility to make sure that right is a guarantee to the women (and even men) of minorities who still struggle to cast their ballot. You fighting for me gives me room to continue to fight for them.

But I would also like to thank the women who broke other barriers. Specifically the women who began to write novels. Throughout our history, women have been treated like they are less than a man (it is still happening to this day in many parts of the world). Because of this, women would sometimes use a male pen name so that they could publish their work without judgement. Authors like Aphra Behn, Frances Burney, Elizabeth Carter, and Jane Austen were among some of the earlier novelists, poets, and literary creators of our time. They wrote knowing that they would be judged by their male counterparts, and did so gracefully.

Women like Dorothea Dix, who was important in finding places to help the mentally ill. A woman who "challenged the idea that people with mental disturbances could not be cured or helped." She opened or expanded at least 30 hospitals for the mentally ill, and wrote books for educational purposes along with poetry and novels. Along with this, she also opened a school in her home. Thank you to any woman who has done something similar.

Women who worked for women in the future to be able to get a job, run for a political office, and to just exist deserve many thanks. However, girls and women who are fighting today deserve thanks as well.

Rosa Louise Parks, an activist in the civil rights movement, is also a woman to keep in mind and thank during women's history month. She worked in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP's) programs. Parks was arrested for not giving her seat up to a white man, and the response to her arrest was the official start to the civil rights movement.

Harriet Tubman and The Underground Railroad. Tubman was another civil rights activist. She was one of the conductors of the underground railroad to free many black slaves.

Maya Angelou is another notable name from our history. She wrote 36 books, had over 50 honorary doctorate degrees, and was a civil rights activist (among many other things). Angelou was open about being sexually assaulted, which is something that is still kind of "taboo" for some people.

Malala Yousafzai won The Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 with an Indian child rights campaigner. She was born in Pakistan and lived through the Taliban's rise to power. Yousafzai is a survivor of an attempted assassination. The Taliban shot her on the bus when she was going home from school. She is one of the most well-known advocates of women's and girls' rights in the 21st century--specifically with education. She has worked, and continues to work, very hard to promote and find ways to provide education in countries where it is not the norm. She is currently 19 years old. Women like her deserve to be recognized.

There are also girls and women like Jazz Jennings. Jazz is a transgender teen who is 16 years old. She has a show on TLC called "I Am Jazz" that won an award from GLAAD. She also has published a memoir titled: "Being Jazz: My Life As a (Transgender) Teen." Jazz is an LGBT+ rights activist, and she has become a face for the transgender community.

There are so many women in the world who have made a difference for other women, and even men, in the future. To all of those women who worked so hard in the past, thank you. To all of the women who are working hard for us today, thank you. I hope you know how amazing you are and that we would not have what we do if it was not for you.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189450
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14439
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457486
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26431
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments