So many women have changed the world, or made the earth a better place. Time Magazine wanted to celebrate them in its project called “First”, highlighting the strong women who pushed the boundaries society imposed on them, overcame the obstacles placed in their paths and ignored the naysayers. Hillary Clinton was the first woman to lead a political party, Eileen Collins was the first woman to lead a space shuttle and Annie Oakley was the first female elite exhibition shooter. Here is a non-exhaustive list of 13 inspirational female pioneers.
1/ Eileen Collins, the first woman to have run a space shuttle
Eileen Collins became an astronaut with NASA in 1991 and guided no less than four space shuttles before she retired in 2006.
2/ Katharine Jefferts Schori, the first female Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church.
Katharine studied biology in the University of Stanford and completed her doctorate in oceanography. Which didn’t exactly lead her to being the head of the Episcopal Church, but however….
3/ Edurne Pasaban, the first female alpinist to have completed the 14 world summits over 8,000 meters
Edurne Pasaban is a Basque alpinist, considered the first woman to have conquered the 14 summits higher than 8,000 meters, which has until now been completed by only around ten alpinists.
4/ Serena Williams, the first tennis player to have won 23 Grand Slam titles
Serena Williams, a professional tennis player since 1995, has won 72 titles, including no less than 23 Grand Slam titles. That’s more than Rodger Federer or Raphael Nadal. Not forgetting her 4 Olympic gold medals. No more than that!
5/ Annie Oakley, the first female shooter
Annie Oakley, also known by the name of Phoebe Ann Moses, was an exhibition shooter known for her accuracy.
6/ Sylvia Earle, the first female scientist to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States
Sylvia Earle is the president of Mission Blue, an organisation that fights for judicial protection and conservation of the oceans.
