Two evenings ago I was sitting in the show at EPCOT's American Adventure. In the course of the show, Harriet Beecher Stowe and her pivotal novel are mentioned. At that moment, a multitude of women's names and their written works began to flood my mind. I realized then that one of the best tools, through the centuries, for women to affect change is by the written work and history has indeed been altered by women and their use of words. And when I asked, on Facebook for people to respond to women authors who have affected them, the responses were varied and powerful. Here are a sampling of the women whose names and words raced through my mind. I am so grateful for these women and for all that they have done and for all of the women who have ever put pen to paper and have changed the world, on every level.
Sappho - possibly the first female writer to be published. Plato called her one of the ten best poets and although her works are chiefly lost to us, the few examples that we have show why she had such influence.
Hildegard of Bingen - She was rather a recluse, but she had a power of vision that stunned the world, in her day and beyond. Popes and kings and other leaders came to her for consultation and her words continue to influence today.
Mary Wollstonecraft - Her essay "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" was the tract that opened the door and pushed the feminist movement to the forefront with a very common sense approach to the need for women's rights.
Catharine Macaulay - One of the best, if not the top, historians of England, she also used the lessons she had learned from her study of the past to advise George Washington in particular, but also a number of our founders relied on her quick and ready mind and writings.
Mercy Otis Warren, Abigail Adams, Dolly Madison - All of these women, along with Catherine Macaulay used letters, essays and editorials to also add understanding and depth to the cause of freedom.
Harriet Beecher Stowe - Her books, and in particular, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" were said, by Abraham Lincoln to be a major force behind the Civil War and the change it affected in this nation.
Simone de Beauvoir - Her book "The Second Sex" brought existentialism and sexism throughout history to the forefront. There was intense reaction, positive and negative, but it was a pivotal work in the feminist movement.
Betty Frieden - Love it or hate it, "The Feminine Mystique" totally changed the world and I am grateful for freedoms and opportunities that are mine today because of women like her and her words.
Anne Frank - This young woman became the iconic figure for millions of victims and gave a personal face to so many silent voices. She moved the entire world with her journal. Don't tell me that journals are not important!
Uta Hagan - I know it might sound frivolous to some, but her "Respect for Acting" brought method acting to the every day and changed the theatre and my life forever.
Rachel Carson - Like other women mentioned here, she affected the course of politics and politicians with "Silent Spring" and offered an awareness of issues of science to the layman. President Kennedy spoke of how she changed the world for him and that caused change for the entire world.
Ayn Rand - "Atlas Shrugged" has been listed for decades as one of the world's most influential books. It is no wonder. It is a well written story as well as opening the eyes of the world to the dangers of government control run rampant.
J.K. Rowling - She made reading cool and I cannot thank her enough for this feat.
There are so many others that have influenced me personally, but that is even more boring than this list, which is likely being read by nobody at this point, but the ah-hah was powerful for me and made me proud to be a woman after considering the power of women, even in times of struggle for women, throughout history.
You go girls!
