During the month of March, we find ourselves in Women’s History Month. To recognize just a few of the amazing women who have made important contributions to our world, some of the staff of The Scribe shared the women who have impacted them the most.
Allison Speir, freshman sociology major
Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for what she thought was right and was unafraid to voice her opinions. Throughout her life she encountered many obstacles but never let gave up on her goals. Ginsburg has taught me to follow my heart, act as a voice for the voiceless, and never let anyone tell you your limitations.
Joy Webb, senior double major in English and philosophy
Mary Wollstonecraft, writer, philosopher, and women’s rights advocate has immeasurably inspired me and impacted my life. As a writer, philosopher, and women’s rights advocate myself, I aspire to one day have as much of a positive influence as she did. “A Vindication of the Rights of Women,” makes me cry every time I read it. She absolutely spat on the patriarchy by not participating in monogamous relationships or marrying, and by constantly demanding that women be treated as human beings. She died at the age of 38 giving birth to the legendary Mary Shelley, who followed in her mother’s footsteps of genius and genuine works. Her spirit was effervescent and unconfinable.
Fiona O’Dowd, sophomore strategic communications and philosophy major
A woman in history who has inspired me most is Georgia O’keefe. She is an artist that has constantly pushed the limits of male expectation in her art and lifestyle, and nevertheless continued to be her most authentic self well into her old age. She has inspired me since I was a little girl, and continues to do so everyday.
Megan Moen, freshman arts major
It’s hard to pick just one, but my biggest inspiration would be women in literature. I grew up reading books and always felt empowered by female authors writing about strong female characters. I was shaped not only by the authors, but by the fictional women they wrote about.
Brandon Flanery, senior English major
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a legend. I remember the first time I saw her doing pushups at the age of 80 on a Netflix commercial for documentary. The moment left me shocked. Very late to the game, as she neared the end of her life, I learned more about her, and the number one thing that comes to mind is true equality. She truly fought for equal rights, not just for women, but for people of color, for LGBTQ+, and even men (in relation to social security benefits). She was a woman who never stopped believing in her ideals, fighting for them to the very end, just like those pushups.
Luci Schwarz, junior English major
Laura Ingalls Wilder was the first female author I truly looked up to and is the main reason I ever got into English Literature and Creative Writing. She tells her stories in such a captivating way, especially in her Little House on the Prairie series that I was, and am still, obsessed with when I was young.
Cambrea Schrank, junior English major
Princess Diana of Wales. Diana was (and still is) the pinnacle of feminine strength and kindness. She is remembered for being a good person and a good mother. She was just 20 years old was she was whisked away into the world of the Royal Family after marrying Prince Charles — a world that could be cruel, salacious, and exploitive. Despite this, she remained graceful, elegant, and humble. One example of this was when she shook hands with an AIDS patient without wearing gloves in 1987, a time when people thought AIDS could be transferred through human touch of any kind. In addition to her compassion, she is remembered for being an absolute fashion icon!! (Enter her “revenge dress” of 1994 from stage left.) Her legacy has taught me how to be polite yet powerful. She is forever remembered as the “People’s Princess.”
Julia Jackson, sophomore English major
Virginia Woolf has had a huge influence on me as a writer. Her feminist essays as well as her prose inspired me to really dig deep into literature in high school and informed my decision to become an English major when I reached college.
William Pham, senior math and philosophy major
Kathy Bates is an amazing actress who will always be an inspiration to me. She is able to act in pretty much any genre of film from horror to comedy. She might not have the hourglass figure of most modern actresses, but that’s what I like about her. Bates is a very real and down to earth person in my opinion. Her portrayal of Annie Wilkes in Misery truly captured what I always imagined the character to be. Truly one of the best actresses of our time.
Taylor Burnfield, senior English major
Maya Angelou because of her incredible storytelling skills, her dedication to civil rights and women’s rights. Also, I wanted to mention Frida Kahlo due to her talent, her amazing artwork when women artists were not taken seriously, and her dedication to her craft.
Brianna Beassie, a junior English major
There’ve been several women in history that have inspired me, but I’d probably say the most impactful is Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Many of us know who Justice Ginsburg was and what an amazing women’s rights advocate she was. Without Ginsburg’s relentless fight against sex-based discrimination and her support of the women’s right to choose, she was a blessing in disguise for many who are often overlooked “on the basis of sex.” She was a fierce advocate for the things that she was passionate about, but she was the living proof of her quote “You can disagree without being disagreeable.”
