We The Women recognizes nine women in history whose extraordinary feats have been lost or underrepresented in the pages of history books. Some of their achievements have been misattributed, slowly forgotten from generational narratives, or simply eclipsed by the horrors of history. These photographic vignettes are built around symbols of their lives and work, and I invite you to familiarize yourself with the stories of those who paved the road for modern women.
2018, Fine Art Photo Awards Professional Category Open Theme Nominee
Sophie Scholl
Sophie Scholl, a 21-year-old Anti-Nazi German, and some of her fellow students published pamphlets under the title of the White Rose. These pamphlets detailed the horrors of Germany’s war efforts during World War II. Arrested for treason for speaking out against Nazi war crimes she was guillotined. However, her efforts were not in vain. Allied forces were able to drop the fifth set of pamphlets over Germany for the masses to read.
ZHENG YI SAO
An often forgotten gem of pirate history is Zheng Yi Sao, she was the most successful pirate of all time. With an estimated 30,000 pirates under her command, she was a force to be reckoned with. Her successes were due to her strict Code of Laws where any wrongdoing resulted in severe punishment or beheading. After wreaking havoc with the Chinese, British and the Portuguese navies, she and her adopted son were given amnesty to live the rest of their days with acquired riches.
ALICE PAUL
Alice Paul is one of the most recognizable leaders, and strategists remembered for her work for the passage of the 19th Amendment. She is remembered for her diligence in encouraging the Senate to pass a national amendment for women’s right to vote and urging women’s rights in civil rights acts and United Nations documents. She is also credited for writing the ERA amendment. Through peaceful and legal actions such as parades, picketing, lobbying, incarceration, petitions, and hunger strikes, she greatly helped to amend the Constitution and equalize the rights of citizens.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
A distinguished American jurist renowned for her many accomplishments is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Appointed to the nation’s highest court by President Clinton, Ginsberg championed women’s right to pro-choice, gender discrimination, search and seizure, and international law. Not to mention her fierce and witty approach to litigation.
Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde is a worldwide renowned artist and activist who calls New York home. Among many of her achievements, she is known for her fearless and outspoken approach as a writer, feminist, womanist, librarian, and civil rights activist. She remained very active during her life. In the early 1990’s she passed away from a relapse of breast cancer. To this day her poetry is celebrated.
Noor Inayat Khan
Noor Inayat Khan, a British member of the Special Operations Executive, is best know for serving three times longer than other spies during WW II. Born of American and Indian descent, she was sent to France to aid the French Resistance. As Britain’s first female Muslim war hero, she was posthumously awarded the George Cross. Nobody knows for certain but, she was probably betrayed by a double agent, captured and executed at Dachau days before liberation.
Ida b wells
Ida Wells is remembered for her thoughtful and witty approach to activism. As an investigative journalist and educator, she used her work to become a pioneer of civil rights, women’s suffrage, and racial equalities. Through her efforts, she helped pave the way to change history, which was not recognized until much later.
Roxane Gay
Roxane Gay, a Haitian American author, shook the New York Times bestseller list with her outspoken and honest books. As a writer, professor, editor, and commentator, her works address topics such as women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, racial identity, obesity, eating disorders, and self-esteem.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie was a devoted Polish physicist and chemist best known for her pioneering research in radioactivity. Through her research, she discovered polonium and radium which, later helped to advance cancer research. As a result of her discoveries, she was awarded two Nobel Peace Prizes.