Keep your heart strong and head high like these valiant women, who are great role models.
History is full of valiant women — from Cleopatra ruling a nation, to Susan B. Anthony fighting for women’s rights. Without these women, we would not be where we are today. Keep reading to find your next female role model.
You may have heard of Helen Keller, but do you know the woman who taught her how to communicate and read Braille? It is none other than Anne Sullivan. Anne was a mature and intelligent young woman who was determined to teach blind, deaf, and mute Helen how to communicate. Within only a few months, Helen showed outstanding improvement. Anne followed Helen for the rest of her life and even helped her graduate from university. Today, Anne Sullivan’s legacy continues to grow thanks to books, movies, and even a school dedicated to her.
If you’ve seen the movie Hidden Figures, you may know a thing or two about Katherine Johnson. She was a NASA mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. Katherine was making power moves as a black woman in segregated America during the 1950s and 60s. With her help, the United States made a turning point in the space competition with the Soviet Union. In 2015, she was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor. Katherine Johnson died in 2020 at the age of 101.
Many of us have heard of Joan of Arc, but do you know why she made history? Joan was a peasant girl living in Medieval France. By age 13, she believed God had chosen her to lead France to victory in its long-running war against England. At age 16, she convinced the king of France to let her lead an army into Orléans, which resulted in France defeating England. After winning the battle, news spread all over the country about her triumph. While she did become a beacon for many, she also became the prime target for enemies. She, unfortunately, was captured and burned at the stake at the age of 19. However, her legacy continues to this day, as she is now Saint Joan of Arc.
A valiant woman of today is Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education. In 2012, she publicly spoke out on behalf of girls in Pakistan about providing young girls a better education. That same year, she was shot in the head but miraculously survived. After many surgeries and rehabilitation, she and her family moved to the UK, where she continues to fight for what she believes in. She is currently the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. And guess how old she is today? Just 24! Malala teaches us that you’re never too young to fight for what’s right.
It takes a lot of guts and intelligence to become a spy during the Nazi reign in France. Meet Virginia Hall. Before losing her leg in a hunting accident, she wanted to be a part of the Foreign Service, but unfortunately, they turned her down. That didn’t stop her! Instead, she became a member of the British Special Operations Executive and the Office of Strategic Services, where she organized spy networks, ran safehouses, and delivered important documents to England. Somehow she did all this while avoiding the Gestapo. She was nicknamed “the Limping Lady,” and at the end of the war, she was rewarded with the Distinguished Service Cross.
Which one of these valiant women do you look up to? Or, did we miss out on one of your favorite heroic females? If so, shoot us a direct message on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Plus, don’t be afraid to make your own leadership moves. You never know, you may be the next woman to enter our list.
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