International Women’s Day and These Inspiring Women Deserve Attention

International Women’s Day is a holiday that deserves more recognition, along with these inspiring women.

It’s that time of year again. Female empowerment and awareness is at an all time high when it’s at the point when flowers start to bloom and the grass gets greener… you know it’s International Women’s Day.

While we are going about the celebration of this day a bit different than the years past with elaborate marches and events, it’s still important to note that this day, as well as the entirety of Women’s History Month, deserves the highlight.

International Women’s Day was first created with it’s first event in 1911, being a celebration of women’s various achievements. Today, over a century before the first noted event was held, it now stands even more as a call-to-action for women’s equality and the importance of it. Even though it is now considered a global holiday, it deserves more recognition for the basis of the fact that it’s vital to be recognized.

It wouldn’t be an International Women’s Day though without honoring some amazing women who have paved the way for many young girls to look up to. Read on for some inspiring women you may not have heard of.

Clara Barton

Clara Barton, Red Cross Founder

Clara Barton was an inspiration and cared to so many. In the times of the Civil War, she was a nurse that tended to wounded soldiers. Once the war ended, she had an itching to travel. Inspired by her time in Geneva, Switzerland and seeing their Red Cross, she came back to the U.S. and founded the American Red Cross in 1881. The service and duty she supplied to our society is one to be seen as kind and noble.

Dr. Regina Benjamin

Dr. Regina Benjamin, U.S. Surgeon General

Regina Benjamin is a woman that proves that adversity will not stop her. After building a rural Alabama health clinic, it faced many hardships through storms, including Hurricane Katrina, demolishing the clinic. That did not stop her though. Time and time again she has built it up again, making sure that people are able to access the care they need.

 Benjamin went on to be appointed as the U.S. Surgeon General by Barack Obama, and even was the first black women under the age of 40 to be on the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association.

Mary-Claire King

Mary-Claire King, Geneticist And Breast Cancer Researcher

Mary-Claire King is a geneticist who made the groundbreaking discovery for an issue that plagues people of all genders, but mostly women. Breast cancer is a disease that can seriously affect people, especially back when it was not known how it was directly caused. King was the first to locate that it originates in chromosome 17, specifically the BRCA-1 gene. By making this discovery, she has made the revolutionary ability to test for breast cancer and preventative actions come true.

These powerful women are amazing examples of why International Women’s Day is a vital part of this month. By having it recognized, it gives even more ability to bring awareness of the women who pioneered our society and to rise up for equality. 

Remember today and every other day, we are powerful and resilient and can do anything.