Most of us know about the important men in history who have changed the world, whether that’s scientists like Albert Einstein & political leaders like Martin Luther King. But what about the women? A lot of the most influential people were women who didn’t get the attention they deserved. Here are thirteen influential women and their contributions that most of us overlook. Really, it’s about time we gave them the respect they deserve because our world would be completely different without them.
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The First Computer Programmer
Ada Lovelace was the first person to develop computer programming—and this was way back in the 1800s! She worked on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine & wrote what was essentially the first computer program. Essentially, Lovelace saw the potential of computers way before anyone else yet she rarely gets the credit for doing so. It’s thanks to her math brilliance that we have so much technology today.
Her Cells Changed Medicine
Henrietta Lacks’ story is as incredible as it is heart-wrenching. In 1951, scientists took her cells during a biopsy—without her knowledge. These later became the first immortal human cell line called HeLa cells. These cells have been rather important in our understanding of medicine and without them, we wouldn’t have the polio vaccine or many of the cancer treatments we use today. It wasn’t until 2013 that her family learned what had happened.
The Unacknowledged Discoverer of DNA’s Structure
Rosalind Franklin was nothing short of a genius due to her X-ray crystallography work. With it, she figured out the structure of DNA and her famous Photo 51 is a big reason we understand how DNA works today. Sadly, her contribution was overshadowed by her male peers. She never got the Nobel Prize recognition she deserved—but her colleagues did.
The First Lady of Physics
Speaking of science, Chien-Shiung Wu was another woman who shattered the glass ceiling. Some people even called her the First Lady of Physics because of her work! This time, it was for physics. Her experiment proved that identical nuclear particles don’t always act the same & it challenged a fundamental law of physics. However, like Franklin, the Nobel Prize went to her male colleagues instead of her.
The Princess Who Fought for Women’s Rights
Sophia Duleep Singh was no ordinary princess because she was a major voice of the UK’s suffragette movement. Singh fought tooth & nail for women’s right to vote. This included protesting & selling newspapers—even refusing to pay her taxes until women were treated equally. Clearly, Singh was the definition of a royal rebel, although she’s not as well-remembered as other British suffragettes like Emily Pankhurst.
Pioneer of Leprosy Treatment
Even though she was only 24 at the time, African American chemist Alice Ball developed the first effective treatment for leprosy. Her work in the early 20th century saved so many lives. Unfortunately, her name has almost been almost entirely forgotten and it took until the turn of the millennium for her work to receive any kind of recognition.
Revolutionary Naturalist and Scientific Illustrator
Like many women on this list, Maria Sibylla Merian was way ahead of her time. In the 17th century, she traveled to South America to study & illustrate local wildlife, focusing on butterfly metamorphosis. Eventually, her research became an important part of entomology. For example, she was one of the first scientists to record insect life cycles in detail.
The Spy Princess
Women can be just as brave as men (if not more so) and Noor Inayat Khan is a great example of this. During World War II, she was the first female radio operator sent into occupied France to help the Resistance. Sadly, the Nazis later captured and executed her. But even then, her courage & dedication to freedom never wavered. The British government awarded her the George Cross after her death.
The First African American Woman Pilot
As the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license, Bessie Coleman showed the world that even the skies aren’t a limit! Unfortunately, she faced a lot of discrimination in the US and, in 1921, went to France to learn how to fly. Clearly, she was determined to succeed. Coleman wanted to create a school for African-American pilots although she sadly died in a plane crash before that happened.
A Pioneer in Nuclear Physics
As with many women in science, Lise Meitner was also overlooked when the Nobel Prize was awarded—yet her work was vital in discovering nuclear fission. Her research helped create the basis for nuclear energy & weapons by showing the world the power of atomic physics. In 1944, her colleague Otto Hahn received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his discovery of nuclear fission. This was despite Meitner’s efforts.
Crusader Against Lynching
During the 1890s, Ida B. Wells was a fearless journalist & civil rights pioneer who led an anti-lynching crusade. She co-founded the NAACP and used her writing to prevent violence against African Americans. In fact, her reports exposed the horrors of lynching to the wider world. She traveled extensively despite the threats to her life—it’s thanks to her that lynching has become illegal.
The Mother of Paleontology
Mary Anning’s discoveries along the English Channel made her a legend in paleontology. In the 19th century, she found dinosaur fossils that completely challenged the scientific community’s understanding of prehistoric life. And it was all because she found fossils that many of her colleagues missed! Unfortunately, due to her gender & social class, she has been mostly ignored.
Founder of the World’s Oldest University
In 859 AD, Fatima al-Fihri founded the University of Al Quaraouiyine in Morocco, which is the oldest existing, continually operating higher educational institution in the world. Many students at her university made huge contributions to science, mathematics & philosophy during the Golden Age of Islam. Despite her monumental contribution, Fatima al-Fihri’s name isn’t as well-known as it should be.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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