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

Made quite an impact in Olympic gymnastics about forty years ago. I saw an interview/story on her during gymnastics this weekend and was fascinated. I think she makes a wonderful role model and is a very interesting woman.

http://olgakorbut.com/

Florence Griffith Joyner 1959–1998 An athlete with world records in the 100 m and 200 m. She developed seizures in her thirties, possibly due to a cavernous angioma that was discovered on autopsy. She died from asphyxiation after a grand mal seizure while asleep.

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.