5 incredible women in History you (probably) haven’t heard of

1. Ruth Bader Ginsburg 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a trailblazer in American law and a passionate advocate for gender equality. She became an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993 under President Clinton, making history as the second woman and first Jewish woman to serve in this position.

In this role, Ginsburg fought for gender equality and women’s rights. For example, she played a key role in the United States v. Virginia case, ruling that the Virginia Military Institute could not exclude women based on gender. She challenged the court’s decision in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. case that ruled against a gender pay discrimination claim. She also worked on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act with President Obama, which aimed to reduce the gender pay gap in the U.S.

Want to learn more about the women’s rights movement in America? Check out our AP US History resources.

2. Bess of Hardwick 

Bess of Hardwick was a powerful woman in 16th-century England who used her wealth and influence to build one of the most impressive estates in England. A member of the aristocracy, Bess used marriage and political insight to become one of the richest women of her time. Bess was selected to be in Queen Elizabeth I’s royal court, showing her position and power in Elizabethan England. 

Bess used her wealth and influence to build Hardwick Hall, an architectural masterpiece that showcased her status and vision. Bess became a shrewd business woman. For example, she built factories for brick and glass-making to not only provide building materials for the hall but to sell for profit. Hardwick Hall still exists today and is important for historians in their studies of Elizabethan England. 

Save My Exams has everything you need to explore Hardwick Hall and its importance, particularly as a historic environment for AQA GCSE History.

3. Violette Szabo 

Violette Szabo was a British secret agent during the Second World War who showed incredible courage in the face of danger. After her husband was killed in action, Szabo joined the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a British organisation that sent spies to work behind enemy lines in occupied Europe.

In 1944, she was captured by the Nazis in France. Despite being tortured, Szabo refused to betray her fellow agents. She was executed at the age of 23. After her death, she was awarded the George Cross for her bravery.

Ready to discover more about resistance to the Nazi Germany? Find exam-specific content for Cambridge IGCSE History, Edexcel GCSE History and AQA GCSE History

4. Claudette Colvin

Claudette Colvin was just 15 years old when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. This was nine months before Rosa Parks' famous protest. Colvin’s story was largely overlooked at the time due to her age as Rosa Parks became the face of the movement to desegregate buses in America.

Despite these challenges, Colvin played a crucial role in the civil rights movement. She was one of the plaintiffs in the landmark Browder v. Gayle case, which led to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that bus segregation in Montgomery was unconstitutional.

Need to know more about the Civil Rights Movement in America? We’ve got you covered for AP US History and AQA GCSE History.

5. Liliʻuokalani, Queen of the Hawaiian Islands 

Queen Liliʻuokalani was the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands. She became queen in 1891 at a time when America increasingly wanted influence in the Pacific region. A keen composer, Liliʻuokalani wrote “Aloha ʻOe”, a culturally important song to Hawaii.

During her reign, Liliʻuokalani worked to implement reforms to restore the power of the Hawaiian monarchy and reduce the control of American businessmen over the islands. However, in 1893, a group of American and European businessmen, with the support of the U.S. military, overthrew her government. Despite this, Queen Liliʻuokalani is remembered for her strong resistance to foreign control. 

Discover more about Liliʻuokalani and the annexation of Hawaii in our AP US History resources.