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I had a few ideas in mind for who I would feature in this piece. But I wanted to ensure that I wasn't missing important women because I looked only through my lens. So I put the question out to my network and asked which women they would include. I received a flood of fabulous answers. So I present to you an extensive list, though still a sampling, in alphabetical order, of great women in American political history. Please add your own political sheros in the comments if I've missed her. And, although I had to limit this post to American women otherwise I'd still be blogging until next week, I'd love to hear your nominations for great women in politics from around the world.
Abigail Adams 1744 - 1818 was America's first second lady and second first lady*, is currently being portrayed in HBO's miniseries John Adams by Laura Linney, was known for her management skills, opposition to slavery (her husband was the only founding father without slaves) and her strong influence on her husbands thinking:
Often, Abigail spoke up for married women's property rights and more opportunities for women, particularly in education. She believed that women should not submit to laws clearly not made in their interest. Women should not content themselves with the role of being decorous companions to their husbands. They should educate themselves and be recognized for their intellectual capabilities, for their ability to shoulder responsibilities of managing household, family, and financial affairs, and for their capacity morally to guide and influence the lives of their children and husbands. Although she did not insist on full female enfranchisement, in her celebrated letter of March, 1776, she exhorted her husband to "remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation."
Marie Wilson at the Huffington Post writes "Remember the Ladies"
The Minstrel Boy at Harp and Sword writes:
And I mourn the fact that strong, intelligent and resourceful women like her only seem to be noticed if they are married to someone like John Adams. Had there been a more open society Abigail would have been of even more consequence.
Jane Addams 1860 - 1935 was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Jane Addams was an ardent feminist by philosophy. In those days before women's suffrage she believed that women should make their voices heard in legislation and therefore should have the right to vote, but more comprehensively, she thought that women should generate aspirations and search out opportunities to realize them.
Becky Levine blogs about a memoir she is reading about a girl named Hilda:
She credits much of this happiness of Jane Addams, the founder of Hull House, who helped Hilda in, as Hilda tells us, too many ways to count. Miss Addams opened Hilda's eyes to a wider world than she had ever known, assisted her in going to college, in teaching other immigrants, and in beginning her work as a writer.
Susan B. Anthony 1820 - 1906 fought for civil rights, temperance and universal suffrage. Susan B. Anthony was the first "real" woman to be depicted on a circulating U.S. coin.
Shana Thornton-Morris writing in her circle ezine notes:
On Valentine’s Day, people are often wrapped up in gifts, dedications, and sentiments regarding romantic love; however, the ties of love aren’t only attached to romantic relationships. Many women now honor Valentine’s Day and Susan B. Anthony’s February 15th Birthday with a V-Day performance of the Vagina Monologues. These performances are symbolic of the current, global Women’s Movement, which has its roots in the work started by two friends; their dedication to one another; and their desire for universal suffrage.
Jennie Day, the Interim Public Information Officer, writing at the water blog of the Portland (Oregon) Water Bureau (yes, really) calls Anthony "One Sassy Suffragist!"
Carole Moseley Braun 1947 - was the first and only African American woman elected to the United States Senate. In 2004 she ran for President. Beautiful, Also, Are The Souls
