The Fairer Sex

Hello everyone, thanks for dropping by and hope you enjoyed International Women's Day, which has been celebrated every year on March 8 since 1909. When you look back in history we women were a gutsy lot. Not only in examples of strength and leadship but in many ways. As a woman who is proud to be a member of 'The Fairer Sex' I thought I would mention some of the women who left their mark in a world dominated men....

Cleopatra VII Philopator (Late 69 BC – August 12, 30 BC) was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. Painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme

Boudica (d. AD 60 or 61) was queen of the British Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire. Boadicea Haranguing the Britons by John Opie

Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" (1412 – 30 May 1431), is a national heroineof France and a Roman Catholic saint. Joan at the coronation of Charles VII, by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres in 1854

Mary Wollstonecraft (27 April 1759 – 10 September 1797) was an eighteenth-century British writer, philosopher, and advocate of women's rights. Mary Wollstonecraft by John Opie (c. 1797)

Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, was the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, reigning from 9 July 1762 until her death on 17 November 1796. Catherine II by Fyodor Rokotov

Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature.

Harriet Beecher Stowe (June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery.

Clarissa Harlowe "Clara" Barton (December 25, 1821 – April 12, 1912) was a pioneer American teacher, patent clerk, nurse, and humanitarian. She is best remembered for organizing the American Red Cross.

Christina Georgina Rossetti (5 December 1830 – 29 December 1894) was an English poet who wrote a variety of romantic, devotional, and children's poems. She is best known for her long poem Goblin Market, her love poem Remember, and for the words of the Christmas carol In the Bleak Midwinter.

Louisa May Alcott (November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888) was a seamstress, governess, abolitionist, feminist, nurse and American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women and its sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys. Little Women was set in the Alcott family home.

Elizabeth Forbes: 'The Half Holiday, Alec home from school'. Elizabeth Adela Forbes (1859–1912) was a Canadian painter who was primarily active in England (I could not find a picture of Elizabeth Forbes so I showed an example of her work)

There are many, many more women that I could have mentioned here but who to choose? What it does show is that against all odds and living in a male dominated society these women showed their worth....

Would we have been as strong and as committed to follow our dreams and destinies. I salute all women....

Until next time, take care....Hugs Chrissy xx