Section 2: Medieval to Modern Heroines

My list includes heroines of many kinds: from France’s bravest warrior (Jeanne d’ Arc) and Angola’s Queen Nzingha, to social reformers (Lucy Stone and Margaret Sanger); Native American spokeswoman Sarah Winnemucca; brilliant feminist writer Virginia Woolf; environmentalist Rachel Carson; animal activist and scientist Jane Goodall; revolutionary Rigaberta Menchu Tum; anti-infibulation activist Agnes Preyiao and visual activist for Black lesbians, Zanele Mulholi; advocate for girls’ education Malala Yousafzai; and four women who had “greatness thrust upon them” inadvertently: explorer and guide for Lewis and Clark, Sacagawea, blind Helen Keller and the teacher who saved her life Anne Sullivan, and modern heroine Victoria Soto, the 27 year-old elementary school teacher, who died defending the children of her classroom in New Town, Connecticut from a deranged shooter.

Heroines come in all shapes and sizes, are not limited by youth or elder age, race, class, continent, or sexual preference. Whether Black, Native American, Asian, White or Hispanic, heroines the world over contribute daily to making a brighter future for all of us. I hope the heroines in this collection will inspire you to appreciate the opportunities they’ve helped make available for women today. Follow your dreams and desires and you too may become a Timeless Heroine, who will help save our planet.