list 50 women little girls should admire instead of symbols of stupidity and weakness

Yes, you read that correctly. However, after “his” death, it was discovered that HE was a she – and she had given birth at some point. Her actual name is, to the best of my knowledge, not known. She is buried under a tombstone that reads, “Dr. James Barry, Inspector General of Army Hospitals” – the British army of the times couldn’t admit that it had a 46-year female veteran – women then were not even allowed to attend medical school.

She did and apparently, she was QUITE successful at her job. She insisted on better food for soldiers, cleaner conditions in hospitals, and more comfortable conditions for patients as well.

I admire her for a number of reasons.

I felt so bad for Gene Wilder when she died. They seemed to be such a happy couple.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilda_Radner
http://www.gildasclub.org/

She was a Dutch Christian survivor of the Holocaust. Her autobiography “The Hiding Place” is incredible. She and her family were very active in the Dutch underground, helping refugees.

She was born in 1901, worked on her family’s farm practically from the time she could toddle, and married early (not uncommon then). She raised her six children, helped raise their children, and even helped with several great-grandchildren. She was a pillar of strength and determination, and a very loving woman. She worked hard up until the end and she did it without complaint. I loved her very much.

When she won the 2008 Indy Japan 300, she became the first woman to win an Indy car race. I admire her for breaking into a sport that is traditionally male, for proving that being female isn’t a hindrance to race car drivers (as some seem to continue to believe). It isn’t that I care so much about Indy car racing, as it is that I think women should be able to compete. She’s continued to compete despite criticism and focus on her looks and comments about racing “not being a sport for women.” It isn’t easy to keep going when so many people are determined to keep you out. That determination is what I admire.

Is Jodie Foster. I would never have guessed that she would have accomplished as much as she has from her early acting days – but of course, that’s why one should never judge someone based on their teen/pre-teen years!

As has already been entered here…she was an incredible person. I can’t really add to what has already been shared, but I do want to include her on my list. THIS is a role model…

The “inventor” of Mother’s Day. She started the campaign to have a day in recognition of mothers following the death of her own mother. What I find fascinating is that in later years, she wound up protesting her own holiday – because it became too commercial. I really cannot argue with that.

Anyway, I admire her thought and desire to recognize mothers – women who have done so much for us.

She was born into a large and very poor family; she was the 20th of 22 children. She was also born at a time when blacks were not allowed to be treated at the same hospitals as whites, so her health issues (and there were many) were treated as best they could be at home. It wasn’t until they realized that her left foot was becoming weak and deformed that help was sought. It was polio – and there was nothing to be done. Her mother took her to a hospital 50 miles away twice a week for two years so that she could learn to walk in a metal brace. After that, her mother learned to do the physical therapy that Wilma needed. By age 12, she could walk normally without braces, special shoes, or anything else. Her family had rallied around her, and encouraged her to be strong and to overcome her illness. She went on to play basketball – though the coach didn’t put her into a single game for three years. Once she did finally make it in, she was spotted by the coach of the women’s track team at Tennessee State University. She went to a summer camp there and eventually got a full scholarship to that university.

Her accomplishments include:
In high school, she became a basketball star, setting state records for scoring and leading her team to a state championship. Then she became a track star, going to her first Olympic Games in 1956 at the age of 16. She won a bronze medal in the 4×4 relay.

On September 7th, 1960, in Rome, Wilma became the first American woman to win 3 gold medals in the Olympics.

“I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations….I have built my own factory on my own ground.”

Madam Walker,
National Negro Business League Convention,
July 1912

Here is a site about her – an incredible business woman at a time when the combination of being black AND female made her achievements truly groundbreaking.

She was the daughter of former slaves, and worked her way from laundress to successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist. Lots to admire here.