10 Women History Wants You to Forget and 10 It Celebrates

Before Albert Einstein became a household name, Mileva Marić shared every one of his thoughts. She was a physicist at a time when women were barely allowed into the field, let alone respected. We don’t hear about her because sometimes history prefers a solitary genius to a shared idea.

As the commander of the largest pirate fleet of all time, Ching Shih ruled with ruthless efficiency. She had such a strict code of conduct that even the most hardened buccaneers adhered to it. For some reason, history always overlooks her, while bestowing mythical status on men like Blackbeard.

DNA might have remained a mystery for much longer without Rosalind Franklin. She was used and then cast aside, and all the credit went to the men who exploited her. If you studied DNA in school, there’s a good chance her name was left out.

Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus three months before Rosa Parks. This outspoken young woman did not fit the image the movement wanted to project. As a result, history has quietly overlooked her courage.

Lise Meitner co-discovered nuclear fission, one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs in history. The men around her took all the credit, and history has followed suit. You can almost hear her shrugging her shoulders and moving on.

Sybil Ludington rode all night to warn American forces during the Revolutionary War. Her journey took longer than Paul Revere’s, but history has barely remembered her name. Apparently, heroism is more exciting when it involves a man shouting.

Alice Ball discovered the first effective treatment for leprosy in the early 20th century. When she died, someone else took credit for her work. That person continued to do so for years, reminding us that credit doesn’t always go to the right person.

As a spy during World War II, Noor Inayat Khan showed immeasurable courage under inhumane conditions. She refused to betray her allies when the Nazis tortured her. As a result, her story is rarely told outside of specialized history books.

Henrietta Leavitt was the astronomer who discovered the key to measuring the distance between galaxies. Her work helped us understand the scale of the universe. Apparently, the universe doesn’t remember her as well as it should.

Zitkála-Šá was a writer, musician, and activist who fought for the rights of Indigenous peoples in America. She resisted the government’s efforts to destroy Indigenous culture. Resistance is never comfortable in a feel-good story.

History always seems to forget the women who complicate the narrative, but it readily celebrates those who do not. So here are the women you’ve probably heard about time and time again.

It’s easy to remember Cleopatra as a seductress, but history also remembers her as a politician and strategist. Popular culture also tends to focus on her romantic affairs rather than her intelligence. It’s flashy and dramatic, and it sells well.

The story of Joan of Arc has all the elements of a legend, with miraculous visions and self-sacrificing heroism. She quickly became a symbol of faith and nationalism in France. Symbols are the kind of things history turns to in order to whisper.

Elizabeth I reigned over England with confidence and skill for decades. Her legacy is one of stability, power, and cultural development. History is kind to rulers whose legacy is easy to discern.

Marie Curie’s scientific work was exceptional and well-documented. She is also the kind of brilliant woman whom history has chosen to celebrate. It’s easy to admire her genius without changing the entire system.

Harriet Tubman’s work with the Underground Railroad is rightly celebrated. Her story is a clear example of moral goodness, heroism, and resilience. It’s the kind of story people want to pass on.

Amelia Earhart embodies adventure, independence, and the unknown. Her disappearance has only added to the mystery surrounding her. History loves strong figures whose fates remain unknown.

Florence Nightingale helped modernize nursing and public health. She transformed the way people viewed medicine and saved countless lives. She is remembered as a gentle woman, even though she was often very fierce.

Rosa Parks became a symbol of the civil rights movement through a single powerful act. Her story has been deliberately simplified to make it more accessible. However, this has not diminished its significance.

Frida Kahlo’s life and work are constantly analyzed and debated. She is the kind of artist who embodies the modern idea of the brilliant, tormented creator. The passion that accompanies painting and pain is the kind of passion that history cherishes.

Malala Yousafzai embodies modern-day hope and courage. Her story is still unfolding; it is global in scope and a source of hope. History loves heroes it can still watch.