By Carol Heath

I thought since we listed President Trump's accomplishments, it may be nice to remind or introduce to our reader's some of the accomplishments that woman have made through the years. Since space is somewhat limited, I will begin with the 17th century, and I will limit the list to American women. Obviously, I'm unable to list every single accomplishment made by women, but I will endeavor to point out some that I think may interest you. 

 

Did you know that Anne Dudley Bradstreet was the first woman poet to be published? Or how about during the American Revolution when Margaret Corbin and Mary Ludwig Hays McCarthy, both fired cannons at the enemy while their husbands lie dying beside them. No, you didn’t read it wrong I said cannons. These ladies meant business, they could have fired a rifle, but they knew a cannon would do more damage. These two women were certainly among our first freedom fighters.

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Dorothea Dix, who investigated prisons, hospitals, and mental institutions was responsible for exposing the deplorable conditions in these government-run establishments. Her efforts resulted in the construction of over 30 new asylums being built before and during the Civil War.

In 1863, Harriet Tubman, a slave herself, was the first woman to plan and execute an armed expedition that freed over 800 slaves.

In 1920, women finally got the vote after years of protests by many women who became known as the "suffragettes."

 

Nellie Taylor Ross was the first woman to be elected a governor of a state in 1925. The following year, 1926, saw Gertrude A. Ederle become the first woman to swim the English Channel.

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Hattie Caraway (don't you love that name, you just know she's a bad ass) was the first woman to be elected to the Senate in 1932. That same year, Amelia Earhart, another bad ass, became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic.

 

During WWII, Cordelia ‘Betty’ Cook, a combat nurse in the Army, was the first woman to receive both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

In 1964, Jerrie Mock became the first woman to fly around the world solo. Frances Day O’Connor was the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court in 1981. Sally Ride, a teacher, became the first woman in space in 1983. And the following year, 1984, we saw Kathryn Sullivan become the first woman to walk in space.

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In 2000, Kathleen MacGrath became the first woman to command a U.S. Navy warship. Shannon Eastin became the first woman to officiate an NFL football game in 2012. And in 2014, Lauryn Williams became the first woman and one of the first people, to win a medal in both the summer and winter Olympics. 

Finally, Kellyanne Conway became the first woman ever to run and win a successful Presidential campaign in 2016.

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Women, of course, continue to break the barriers of a male -dominated  world and I predict that before this year comes to a close, a woman will be the first to do something before a man does. Oh, wait, that already happened a long time ago when Eve gave birth to Cain followed by Able, which is a whole other story. 

 

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