The beginning of the film shows the pressures that Mulan faces as a woman in the early Han Dynasty. Mulan is raised to be dutiful, poised, and polite. Eventually, when she is of age, she will be presented to the matchmaker for marriage. She can only bring honor to her family by entering a successful marriage. Mulan is scrubbed, wrapped in silks, and painted white to be acceptable for her audition to be the “perfect wife.” The lyrics only add to the absurdity of the situation: “Men want girls with good taste / Calm, obedient, who work fast-paced.” Listening to this as a child, it is easy to cast off the situation as something fantastical for the sake of the movie. But for centuries, this wasn’t satire; it was reality.

The fight for women’s suffrage was long and arduous, yet effective.

Initially, the fight for women’s suffrage was a slow process. Women were accustomed to traditional roles, including marriage, motherhood, and domestic responsibilities. After the 1950s, many believed that women should take more independent roles. They did, for a while. Today, women are regressing as the rise of conservatism and the “trad-wife” aesthetic through apps like TikTok. Women think that dependency is empowerment and assume that men are the providers and the “easy way out.” This narrative is false. True feminism isn’t about the kind of life you choose but who truly holds the power within that decision.

Now, the younger generations are taking back their independence.

Gen Z looks to TikTok and Instagram as their mediums to promote women’s suffrage, feminist movements, and even express themselves through edits and other digital art forms. A new trend has emerged recently on TikTok, utilizing the song “Honor to Us All.” Screens flash with the lyrics overlapping clips of powerful women, such as Serena Williams, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Anna Wintour, Kamala Harris, Greta Thunberg, and Princess Diana. The song, which once confined girls to submissiveness and strict household roles, is now being used to celebrate women’s accomplishments and failures, as well as their independence.

Mulan didn’t just teach girls that the only victory was Mulan’s defeat of the Huns, but instead proved that honor is taken, not given. Today, girls face subtle battles: being “too loud,” “too emotional,” “too selfish,” or not caring about their home and surroundings. Today, women are becoming more than just porcelain dolls; they are becoming their own individuals and role models.

Read more about women’s suffrage here, or check out some other movie reviews here!

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A couple of weekends ago, I sat down and talked with my mom specifically about her job. A while back, I started a Women in Business Interview Series, and this year, I decided to kickstart it with one of the best in the game I know! No bias here! 

Who is Kari Wilbanks?

My mom, Kari Wilbanks, runs her own interior design firm and has for seventeen years. She is a designer that focuses mainly on new construction for homes. She earned her degree at the University of Alabama, but it was not the route she thought she was going when starting her college education. This has been very reassuring in my own college search to know that things do change, and it is okay to find your passions later on! Ultimately, she landed on interior design because it was the best combination of some of the things she loved: being creative, working with others, and process thinking. As a kid, finding new designs, whether it was just around her room or rearranging her mother’s things, was never uncommon for Wilbanks, and she credits this time to being steps that lead her to interior design for a living. 

Starting Kari Wilbanks Interior Design!

For the first seven years as an interior designer after internships here in Birmingham, Wilbanks was faced with a new challenge because of her husband’s relocation to Tampa. Fortunately, she was encouraged by those around her to take a leap of faith. Kari Wilbanks Interior Design was officially open for business!

While she enjoys being her own boss, Wilbanks recognizes that it is not the strategy for everyone. She loves the flexibility that managing yourself provides, especially when my sister and I were younger, it was very helpful to accommodate our schedules. When opening your own business, Wilbanks says it is very important to be a self-motivator. Being able to hold yourself accountable and encouraged to work is the key to success.

At the beginning of a new business, the motivation is necessary because of additional work such as accounting that may not be able to be hired so soon. To those looking into entrepreneurship, Wilbanks notes to “not listen” to the fears that people may project onto you. She says to stay confident in your work, believe you can always get it done, and know that you can do a good job. Your work is solely yours so believing in your abilities is the first step towards being a successful entrepreneur.

Wilbanks’ Advice on Entrepreneurship!

Although confidence in yourself is necessary, Wilbanks advises to never discount the lessons that others can teach you. She suggests finding a role model in your field that inspires you to be just as successful and provide a “footprint” for your work. Interning for interior design really puts into perspective the detail that the job revolves around. She says real-world experience shows the true nitty-gritty of the design field, especially if you are interested in the job’s route that deals with everyone else like builders, contractors, etc (what my mom does). 

Yes, Wilbanks agrees, interior design is fun, but she wants to make clear there is so much more to it than that. Wilbanks uses the analytical side directly with her creative mind in her work. Something many people do not realize is the large amounts of math involved in interior designing. There are many numbers to account for that will ultimately determine the beauty of your work and satisfaction of clients. 

Why Wilbanks’ Is An Inspiration!

By satisfying clients, Wilbanks finds a sense of empowerment. She is able to listen and deliver her clients wishes while knowing they trust her to perfectly execute something they want to spend the rest of their lives in. To Wilbanks, interior design is a collaboration. She strives to find the best fit for her clients while implementing her own expertise to make a home they truly love. In order to stand out in her field, Wilbanks knows authenticity is of utmost importance. She does not believe this is limited to just interior design; authenticity allows a connection to those you are working with and the best end result for all. 

I have felt so lucky to grow up with a mom who truly exemplifies these traits. She has taught my sister and I the same qualities that she applies to her job: staying confident in yourself and learning from others. Although I do not wish to follow in her footsteps, I truly admire my mom’s dedication to her job that has not faltered throughout my life. Remember that your passion may not be apparent at first, but it will come in time and self motivation will follow! IF you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to me, and I (or my mom) can answer! 

Check out Sherrod’s first Women in Business Series article on Cookie Fix’s, Amy Jason — here!

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The Life of Anna Wintour 

Turns out, my friend was not crazy about this Anna Wintour person. Dame Anna Wintour is the current CEO of Vogue. In 2017 ,the late Queen Elizabeth II appointed Wintour with the position of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or DBE giving her the title of Dame. She’s believed to be the inspiration behind the iconic movie “The Devil Wears Prada,” she is known as the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, the chief content officer of Condé Nast, and one of the most influential and recognizable figures in fashion. Some even speculate that Edna Mode from the Incredibles series may be based off of Wintour. 

Known for her signature bob and her dark black sunglasses, she’s arguably the most powerful woman in the fashion world. She is praised for her skills in determining fashion trends, and she is hated for her aloof and no-nonsense personality. But this no-nonsense woman got to her current position without working hard. Her father, Charles Vere Wintour was the editor of London’s Evening Standard newspaper. Wintour went to school and later dropped out of North London Collegiate in ‘66. Four years later, she became a fashion assistant for Harpers & Queen magazine. She later worked as a fashion editor for numerous New York magazines. Inn 1986 she became an editor of British Vogue, and later in 1987, she became an editor of House & Garden. 

When Wintour replaced Grace Mirabella, the former editor in chief of American Vogue, Elle, another magazine, was launched in the United States with the sole purpose of dethroning Vogue’s popularity. Wintour unapologetically said in a published fashion philosophy she created, “mass with class – that’s my mantra.”

The Legacy of Anna Wintour

Afterwards, multiple famous and influential women were featured on the cover of Vogue, like Angelina Jolie and Hilary Clinton, to name a few.  She also worked on creating multiple associations and famous events including the notorious Met Gala to collect money to fundraise for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She’s also the reason behind multiple famous fashion careers including supermodels, photographers, and designers who made it big by flaunting her reputation and influence. People who benefitted from her influence include Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs. In 2003, she and the Council of Fashion Designers of America created the Vogue Fashion Fund to help support the next generation of American designers. 

The Devil Wears Prada and Other Media 

Anna Wintour is also the inspiration behind the famous best-selling novel by Lauren Weisberger and the 2006 film, the Devil Wears Prada. Meryl Streep acts as Miranda Priestly, an editor of a famous fashion magazine while Anne Hathaway plays Andy, a recent college graduate who serves as Priestly’s assistant. Andy tries to survive the high stakes and power struggles of the fashion industry. People speculate that Weisberger wrote the novel drawing inspiration from her time working for Wintour earlier in her life. Wintour also appeared in numerous documentaries about her life and her time at Vogue including The September Issue: Anna Wintour & The Making of Vogue and The First Monday in May. 

Throughout her life, Wintour has shown that she is not a woman to be trifled with, especially in the fashion industry. Her influence, signature look, and her no-nonsense attitude demands the respect and admiration of everyone around her. From the beginning of her career even to now, Dame Anna Wintour will always be known as one of the most influential women in the fashion world. She will go down in history as “Nuclear Wintour.” 

Sources

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Anna Wintour”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Sep. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anna-Wintour. Accessed 1 November 2024.

“The Devil Wears Prada.” Box Office Mojo, https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1481606657/. Accessed 1 November 2024.

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Interviewee: Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.)
Interviewer: Morgan Durant



People often say that many fashion trends come and go. This is not entirely true, it is better said this way, “Fashion trends come and go, but they always come back.” Fashion is best categorized as a never ending cycle of what’s in and what’s out. It is amazing to see certain styles of clothing be in for one decade and out the next. I like to say that fashion changes like the seasons; however, it’s less predictable. I interviewed Judge Vanzetta Penn McPherson, my grandmother, on what fashion trends were like when she was growing up in the 1950s and 60s. It is intriguing to compare the fashion trends of her teenage/girlhood to the current fashion trends of teenagers today. The most confounding questions in and around the fashion world today are: “How has fashion changed?” and “What trends are coming back and why?”.

The first word Judge McPherson used to describe fashion was “cyclical” (Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.))., which is a word used to describe its movement. It means, “moving in cycles” (“Cyclic”). That is exactly what fashion trends have been doing throughout most of the last century. To say that fashion has gone through a huge change overtime is an inexact statement. The truth is that fashion has been recycling itself over the last 70-80 years. Many fashion trends today reflect fashion trends that were popular in the 1950s-60s. Some of the popular fashion trends included afros, high wedge heel shoes, flair jeans, knee-high boots, canvas bags, etc.. Already this short list showcases items that we see in today’s fashion trends; for instance flair jeans and flair pants in general are especially popular in today’s society.

Differences are also prevalent when comparing today’s teenage fashion to that of the 50s and 60s. Judge McPherson spoke of a distinct difference in jewelry when she was a teenager. She described the jewelry style as going from “heavy” to “light (Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.)). Growing up she wore jewelry that was “heavy” and “wooden”(Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.). This brought in an opportunity for more creatively designed jewelry. The jewelry was more bold than the small delicate jewelry that is worn today. However, despite the fact that jewelry today is not as bold, or distinctive, it still allows people to express themselves through beauty, elegance and style. Sneakers are another distinctive difference in fashion trends. Sneakers have been becoming exceedingly popular since the 70s. They went from being “not in”, to being an everyday shoe for most people.

Economics is also an important factor to consider. In just the last 30 years prices in the U.S. have risen exponentially. Everything is more expensive: clothes, food, houses, transportation, etc. Judge McPherson noticed distinctively that “jeans” were less “expensive” than they are now (Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.)). With clothes in general being more expensive the fashion industry is growing as a whole through individual brands and stores. People are spending more money and buying more clothes to stay up to date with each and every fashion trend. These days sometimes it can feel like trends are beginning to override personal style.

Despite the fact that fashion trends seem to be reappearing in today’s society, the overall look of fashion is still changing. For example, flair jeans today do not look like they did half a century ago. The afro has also evolved from being loose hair that reached for the sky, to now sitting low and hanging off of the head. Fashion is cycling, but not recycling. Each time a trend comes back it has been evolved in some way shape or form by the most recent generation.

Fashion like everything else is changing and developing at an accelerated rate. However, it is just cycling itself throughout different generations. It is crazy to think that in our lifetime fashion trends are coming back from the 50s and 60s which was a different time on so many levels. So next time you ask your parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, etc. “What clothes were in style when you were a kid?” try to compare their answer to the clothes that we wear now, and see what connections you can make.



Bibliography

“—.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyclic.
“Vanzetta Penn McPherson, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Ret.)”. Personal Interview. 19 February 2024.

For more on influential women, check out the article: Influential Women From the Past Decade!

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If you didn’t know, March is Women’s History Month! This month, we get to celebrate all the accomplishments that have been made by women and all the accomplishments yet to come! One of the ways we can celebrate is by reading books that have female characters that can empower us and motivate us to become better. Here are some books with female characters that everyone should aspire to be like!

1. The School for Good and Evil by: Soman Chainani 

If you like a fantasy book centered around two best friends trying to find out where they fit, then The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani is for you. This story focuses on two teenage girls, Agatha and Sophie, who are transported to a magical school where fairytale characters learned how to survive in their stories. While Sophie is girly and extroverted, Agatha is socially awkward and stubborn. Even though they are total opposites, they love each other dearly. I remember reading this book for the first time, and I loved how strong these characters were in their own ways. They never let others put them down and relied on each other through the dark points in their lives. 

2. The Cruel Prince by: Holly Black

The Cruel Prince is a young adult fantasy that follows a teenage mortal girl named Jude Duarte. The story focuses on her trying to navigate through a magical world filled with manipulation, deceit, and treachery. Jude has to face so many different challenges, but she faces them all with determination and strength. She will protect her family at all cost, and she always finds a clever way to get out of situations. I love reading about her wit and cleverness. Also, seeing Jude work through her trauma can be inspirational for anyone.  

3. The Inheritance Games by: Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Avery Grambs is the main character in this comedic, suspenseful mystery. She is intelligent and witty. She is always looking for and solving the riddles and puzzles in life. Reading her sarcastic and witty comebacks made me feel comfortable about who I am. No matter how many people questioned whether she deserved what she got, she remained strong, and she always knew her worth. If you want to read a book full of riddles and witty conversations, then you should read The Inheritance Games. 

4. Once Upon a Broken Heart by: Stephanie Garber 

Evangelina Fox is a caring dreamer who is constantly looking for her true love. While the other characters on this list are fighters, Evangelina is a lover. She always tries to make sure that everyone is happy and puts their needs before her own. Fox is a selfless girl who is a ray of light for all those around her. Reading about her made me realize that strength isn’t just about fistfights and wielding swords – it is about having the strength to smile everyday. 

5. Six of Crows by: Leigh Bardugo 

Now, my all time favorite book is Six of Crows. It is filled with wit, heists, fights, and some of my favorite characters ever. My favorite character of all time is Inej Ghafa. Her story is filled with suffering and darkness, but she never loses hope. Inej believes in her faith and never yields from it. She supports her friends through their hardships, she grows from her past, and wants to make sure no one has to go through what she did. She tries to stay calm and focused on her path. Her strength and determination inspire me everyday.

There you have it, 5 of my favorite books featuring strong female characters!

Check out more March Book Reads Recommendations here!

The post 5 Books With Strong Female Characters by: Corra Maddox appeared first on GirlSpring.

Hi, my name is Trina & I am a manager for my school’s Esports team! Which is overall such a fun and unique experience to have, and to be included onto my resume. So, if you don’t know what an Esports team is, it is essentially a team of gamers. My school has games such as Rocket League, Smash Bros, etc., and my role as a manager is more on the marketing side. So anything marketing related you can think of, I do it. Here is some behind-the-scenes of what it is like to be an Esports manager.

 Constantly posting

My main role as a manager is to help run the social media and create content for them. This can be things like helping to come up with TikTok ideas, creating graphics of the upcoming schedule, etc.. The main social media platform that I run is Twitter. However, prior to doing that I had never used Twitter. So, as you can imagine that was a learning curve. And with the games being at various times throughout the day and the week, it requires posting at random times. Sometimes that can mean 9am or it can be 10pm, you never really know.

Being a part of the team

This is one of my favorite parts by far. There is truly no better feeling than getting to be apart of something bigger than just you. And that is exactly what it is like to be on the team. Even though I am not a player, they all welcomed me like I was one. And I got most of my friend group from joining the team also. They have even taught me how to play some of the games which are very entertaining (I am not very good).

Being outnumbered

Esports is not a very big female “sport”. In fact, our team only has two female players. Then me and my best friend are the two female managers. So that puts 4 girls on a team of 50+ players and staff. Sometimes that can be quite the experience. Such as having to adjust to getting teased by all the guys, sometimes showing you can do something even though you are a girl, etc.. But at the end of the day, they all really do care about us and want what’s best for us.

Balancing school and duties

While being a manager I am still a full-time college student, work multiple jobs, and am a content creator. This means that having good time management is an absolute must and also making sure to stay on top of my work. And that can require some sacrifices such as not hanging out with friends on a weekend so I can get all my homework done and go support my team the next morning. Usually keeping the balance is pretty easy, unless its a heavy homework week or my team is going to travel.

Being a manager for any sports team in college is such a rewarding experience that will be great to add to your resume also. So if there is any sport that you enjoy but don’t want to actually play the sport, then maybe being a manager for the team could be a good fit for you.

Want to read more about games? Check out the Girl Spring article, Where in the World are the Female Protagonists in Video Games?

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Giving Resolutions

It’s giving, resolutions? Not this year. New Year’s resolutions have been a thing since I was a kid, but what are they really? Empty promises on things we’ll do the upcoming year and the changes we’ll make to help ourselves. Yet, the most important part of this is remaining true to your word and staying committed to what you said you’d do.

You ever notice the hoards of people in the gym during the first week of January? Slowly, it dies down and the crowd fades, but the question is, what about you? You’ve gone every day and stayed consistent while these people haven’t. And that’s what we’re going to talk about.

It’s Giving, Commitment

Part of building yourself as you mature is staying true to yourself and never giving up, no matter what anyone else is doing. Pushing yourself to try new things and stick with them is a wonderful thing and definitely changes it up.

It’s Giving, Dedication

YOU are the most important part of your life, so take care of yourself! I used to tell myself I had zero time to stretch, go to the gym, meal prep, have hobbies, etc… but the truth is, when I managed my time and took the time to make changes in my day, I realized just how much time I really had. Wanting to do the things you said you’d do last year is so this year.

You’re Worth It

Mental health is important as well, especially going into the new year. As someone who takes mental health very seriously, I know it may be hard to get out of bed sometimes, or even take a shower. I don’t care if you’re not going anywhere, put on that makeup you’ve been thinking about and wear that cute outfit – even if it’s only for yourself, do it. Trust me, a little bit goes a long way for your self-worth and self-esteem.

Here’s some things I started doing that could give you ideas as well:

– Nighttime Journaling

– Listening to music before bed to unwind

– Making a to-do list or schedule of plans (This helps keep you on track)

– Stretching in your free time as an excuse to wear that cute gym outfit

– Start volunteering/helping out in your community

– Do something new you haven’t done in a while (challenge yourself, you’d be proud you did)

Reward Yourself

Shoutout to Girl Spring contributor Corra Maddox with her poem Grown up, because damn girl, that hit me deeply. Don’t grow up too fast, so make sure to reward yourself for the things you’ve done different! I don’t care how small it is, a win is a win and you’re a winner.

So go to Dunkin’ and get that drink, make yourself a super cute yummy snack, or buy yourself that cute thing you’ve been eyeballing for a while.

In the End, it Really Does Matter

All in all, resolutions mean nothing if you don’t act on them. Don’t bring empty promises into the new year, make that change and do it for yourself. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many things at once, so make sure you still enjoy being young.

I may not be much older than you girlies, but trust me, it’s fun being a kid – heck, I still am. Have fun with your goals and make them positive, don’t rush into being an adult, but most of all, do it for you.

You’re the most important person in your life, don’t forget that.

It’s giving, Girl Power.

Being mindful of yourself and your mental health is important starting the new year, so check out Girl Spring’s article on the importance of mindfulness this year.

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even my name is like yours

Zhixin and ZhuZhu

Our mothers are influential women in our lives – check out Girl Spring contributor Anna’s poem on a mother’s love.

The power of poetry imbues us with creativity; click the link here to see the power of haiku writing.

The post Mother and Daughter Haiku appeared first on GirlSpring.

[Phillips Exeter Academy, one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the US.]

But what exactly is this viral new trend and how should we embrace it?

The Root of the Preppy Aesthetic

The term “preppy” originally; referred to a subculture of privileged American youth who attended prep schools in the Northeast, such as Phillips Exeter and Andover, that fed into prestigious universities. The preppy stereotype was tied to old-money families, expensive sports, and luxury brands like Brooks Brothers. 

Traditional preppy fashion stems from mid-20th century Ivy League campus looks, characterized by clean lines, classic silhouettes, and a timeless appeal that refuses to go out of style. The preppy girl’s wardrobe includes blazers, button-down shirts, A-line skirts, tailored trousers, and simple dresses. The color palette leans towards neutrals, with navy, white, and pops of bright colors like pink and green as staples. Accessories like pearls, headbands, and ballet flats complete the look. 

Exclusion

Over the years, it’s transformed into a broader cultural phenomenon. Especially since the explosion of social media during the 2020s, the preppy aesthetic went viral and even developed sub-aesthetics. VCSO, or Southern Prep is a more trendy, casual version of the classic preppy look. 

While the roots are elitist, today, the preppy aesthetic is accessible to all, celebrating both classic and contemporary elements.

An Empowering Way of Life 

The preppy aesthetic is more than just fashion, it’s a state of mind that promotes:

1. Confidence: Dressing well leads to feeling confident. When you’re wearing a navy blazer, you can’t help but sit straight and feel like conquering the world. 

2. Academic Excellence: Embracing the academic side of the preppy aesthetic will motivate yourself to earn impressive grades and enjoy learning.

3. Empowering Traditions: The preppy style embraces and cherishes traditions, paying tribute to the foundations that have paved the way for today’s women.

4. Community Building: Unlike the exclusive origins of the aesthetic, the modern preppy community is inclusive and supportive. Girls who embrace this aesthetic often find a sense of belonging. 

5. Success: Many women attribute their success to the values associated with preppy style: drive, discipline, and staying classy. 

Owning the Preppy Aesthetic

The beauty of the preppy aesthetic is that you can adapt it to your unique style. Mix and match classic pieces with trendy ones, and add a personal touch with accessories that reflect your personality. This style is all about celebrating the traditions that empower you while keeping an eye on the future.

The preppy aesthetic isn’t just a hashtag; it’s a way of life. Embracing the preppy look is a declaration of self-empowerment, a commitment to one’s growth, and a celebration of the strength of womanhood. So, embrace your preppy side and step into the world with the timeless elegance and confidence it brings.

Keeping up with the preppy aesthetic, check out Girl Spring’s guide to luxury gifts this christmas.

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First women’s-rights convention meets in Seneca Falls, New York, 1848

In July 1848, some 240 men and women gathered in upstate New York for a meeting convened, said organizers, “to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women.” One hundred of the delegates–68 women and 32 men–signed a Declaration of Sentiments, modeled on the Declaration of Independence, declaring that women, like men, were citizens with an “inalienable right to the elective franchise.” The Seneca Falls Convention marked the beginning of the campaign for woman suffrage.

Wyoming Territory is first to grant women the vote, 1869

In 1869, Wyoming’s territorial legislature declared that “every woman of the age of twenty-one years, residing in this territory, may at every election…cast her vote.” Though Congress lobbied hard against it, Wyoming’s women kept their right to vote when the territory became a state in 1890. In 1924, the state’s voters elected the nation’s first female governor, Nellie Tayloe Ross.

Californian Julia Morgan is first woman admitted to the Ecole de Beaux-Arts in Paris, 1898

The 26-year-old Morgan had already earned a degree in civil engineering from Berkeley, where she was one of just 100 female students in the entire university (and the only female engineer). After she received her certification in architecture from the Ecole de Beaux-Arts, the best architecture school in the world, Morgan returned to California. There, she became the first woman licensed to practice architecture in the state and an influential champion of the Arts and Crafts movement. Though she is most famous for building the “Hearst Castle,” a massive compound for the publisher William Randolph Hearst in San Simeon, California, Morgan designed more than 700 buildings in her long career. She died in 1957.

Margaret Sanger opens first birth-control clinic in the United States, 1916

In October 1916, the nurse and women’s-rights activist Margaret Sanger opened the first American birth-control clinic in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Since state “Comstock Laws” banned contraceptives and the dissemination of information about them, Sanger’s clinic was illegal; as a result, on October 26, the city vice squad raided the clinic, arresting its staff and seizing its stock of diaphragms and condoms. Sanger tried to reopen the clinic twice more, but police forced her landlord to evict her the next month, closing it for good.

Edith Wharton is the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize, 1921

Wharton won the prize for her 1920 novel The Age of Innocence. Like many of Wharton’s books, The Age of Innocence was a critique of the insularity and hypocrisy of the upper class in turn-of-the-century New York. The book has inspired several stage and screen adaptations, and the writer Cecily Von Ziegesar has said that it was the model for her popular Gossip Girl series of books.

Activist Alice Paul proposes the Equal Rights Amendment for the first time, 1923

For almost 50 years, women’s-rights advocates like Alice Paultried to get Congress to approve the amendment; finally, in 1972, they succeeded. In March of that year, Congress sent the proposed amendment–“Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex”–to the states for ratification. Twenty-two of the required 38 states ratified it right away, but then conservative activists mobilized against it. (The ERA’s straightforward language hid all kinds of sinister threats, they claimed: It would force wives to support their husbands, send women into combat and validate gay marriages.) This anti-ratification campaign was a success: In 1977, Indiana became the 35th and last state to ratify the ERA. In June 1982, the ratification deadline expired. The amendment has never been passed.

Amelia Earhart is the first woman to cross the Atlantic in an airplane, 1928

After that first trip across the ocean, which took more than 20 hours, Earhart became a celebrity: She won countless awards, got a ticker-tape parade down Broadway, wrote a best-selling book about her famous flight and became an editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In 1937, Earhart attempted to be the first female pilot to fly around the world, and the first pilot of any gender to circumnavigate the globe at its widest point, the Equator. Along with her navigator Fred Noonan, Earhart successfully hopscotched from Miami to Brazil, Africa, India and Australia. Six weeks after they began their journey, Earhart and Noonan left New Guinea for the U.S. territory of Howland Island, but they never arrived. No trace of Earhart, Noonan or their plane was ever found.

The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.

– Oprah

Frances Perkins becomes the first female member of a Presidential cabinet, 1933

Perkins, a sociologist and Progressive reformer in New York, served as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor. She kept her job until 1945.

The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League becomes the first professional baseball league for female players, 1943

Women had been playing professional baseball for decades: Starting in the 1890s, gender-integrated “Bloomer Girls” teams (named after the feminist Amelia Bloomer) traveled around the country, challenging men’s teams to games–and frequently winning. As the men’s minor leagues expanded, however, playing opportunities for Bloomer Girls decreased, and the last of the teams called it quits in 1934. But by 1943, so many major-league stars had joined the armed services and gone off to war that stadium owners and baseball executives worried that the game would never recover. The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was the solution to this problem: It would keep ballparks filled and fans entertained until the war was over. For 12 seasons, more than 600 women played for the league’s teams, including the Racine (Wisconsin) Belles, the Rockford (Illinois) Peaches, the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Chicks and the Fort Wayne (Indiana) Daisies. The AAGPBL disbanded in 1954.

The FDA announces its approval of “The Pill,” the first birth-control drug, 1960

In October 1959, the pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle applied for a license from the federal Food and Drug Administration to sell its drug Enovid, a combination of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, for use as an oral contraceptive. FDA approval was not guaranteed: For one thing, the agency was uncomfortable with the idea of allowing doctors to prescribe drugs to healthy people; for another, the young bureaucrat assigned to the case was fixated on moral and religious, not scientific, objections to the pill. Despite all this, Enovid was approved for short-term use in October 1960.

Janet Guthrie is the first woman to drive in the Indy 500, 1977

Guthrie was an aerospace engineer, training to be an astronaut, when she was cut from the space program because she didn’t have her PhD. She turned to car racing instead and became the first woman to qualify for the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. Mechanical difficulties forced her out of the 1977 Indy race, but the next year she finished in ninth place (with a broken wrist!). The helmet and suit that Guthrie wore in her first Indy race are on display in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.

President Ronald Reagan nominates Sandra Day O’Connor to be the first woman on the Supreme Court, 1981

O’Connor was confirmed that September. She did not have much judicial experience when she began her Supreme Court term—she had only been a judge for a few years and had never served on a federal court—but she soon made a name for herself as one of the Court’s most thoughtful centrists. O’Connor retired in 2006.

Joan Benoit wins the first women’s Olympic Marathon, 1984

At the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, Joan Benoit (today known as Joan Benoit Samuelson) finished the first-ever women’s marathon in 2:24.52. She finished 400 meters ahead of the silver medalist, Norway’s Grete Waitz.

Manon Rheaume is the first woman to play in an NHL game, 1992

Manon Rheaume, a goalie from Quebec City, Canada, was no stranger to firsts: She was well-known for being the first female player to take the ice in a major boys’ junior hockey game. In 1992, Rheaume was the starting goalie for the National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lighting in a preseason exhibition game, making her the first woman to play in any of the major men’s sports leagues in the U.S. In that game, she deflected seven of nine shots; however, she was taken out of the game early and never played in a regular-season game. Rheaume led the Canadian women’s national team to victory in the 1992 and 1994 World Hockey Championships. The team also won silver at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Madeleine Albright becomes the first female Secretary of State, 1997

In January 1997, the international-relations expert Madeleine K. Albright was sworn in as the United States’ 64th Secretary of State. She was the first woman to hold that job, which made her the highest-ranking woman in the federal government’s history. Before President Bill Clinton asked her to be part of his Cabinet, Albright had served as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In 2004, Condoleezza Rice became the second woman–and first African-American woman to hold the job. Five years later, in January 2009, the former Senator (and First Lady) Hillary Rodham Clinton became the third female Secretary of State.

Kathryn Bigelow becomes the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Director, 2010

The American film director Kathryn Bigelow’s 2008 film “The Hurt Locker” garnered six Oscars on March 7, 2010, including the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture. Written by Mark Boal, a former journalist who covered the war in Iraq, the movie follows an Army bomb squad unit as they conduct dangerous missions and battle personal demons in war-torn Baghdad. Bigelow, whose previous films include “Strange Days” and “Point Break,” was the first woman to take home the Best Director distinction. She triumphed over her former husband, James Cameron, whose science fiction epic “Avatar” was another presumed front-runner.

Hillary Clinton becomes first female presidential nominee of a major party, 2016

On July 26, 2016, the former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state was officially nominated as the Democratic nominee, becoming the first woman from a major party to achieve that feat. Clinton had previously mounted an unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2008 (before losing to Barack Obama in the Democratic primary), and fought off a strong challenge by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in 2016 before clinching the glass ceiling-breaking nomination.

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