Trailblazing Women in Politics

Female trailblazers in politics are particularly inspiring to me. Here are a few that I hope will inspire you too!

Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) – in 1968, she was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress. In 1972, she was the first Black person and first woman to ever seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for U.S. President. Her career started in early education, and she carried that experience to Congress, fighting for daycare funding and increasing minimum wage. She also worked to create the Congressional Black Caucus. Representative Chisholm served for 7 terms in the U.S. Congress.

Famous quote: “I ran because somebody had to do it first!” – Shirley Chisholm

Frances Perkins (1880-1965) – her early career as a social worker and high school teacher parlayed into a life in advocacy and politics when she witnessed the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York City – which killed 146 workers. Her work in politics and as an advocate for workers’ rights led her to be the first woman appointed to a U.S. Cabinet position. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her as the Secretary of Labor. She served in that position from 1933 to 1945, the longest to ever serve in that position. During this time, she worked on programs that still impact Americans today; she held a key role in creating the New Deal and the Social Security system.

Famous quote: “A government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.” – Frances Perkins

Jeannette Rankin (1880-1973) – Born near Missoula, Montana, she was a feminist, pacifist and the first woman to ever be elected to the U.S. Congress. In 1914, she led the successful woman suffrage campaign in Montana. In 1916, she was elected to Congress… while the federal law granting women the right to vote did not occur until 1920. In Congress, she advocated for women citizenship independent of their husbands and also supported government-sponsored hygiene instruction in maternity and infancy. In 1917, she voted against declaring war on Germany (in World War I). She lost re-election due to this stance. Decades later, she ran again, and in 1940 returned to Congress to serve one term. Her pacifism was again tested, as she was the only member of Congress to vote against declaring war on Japan (in World War II). In 1968, at the age of 87, she led 5000 women in a march on Capitol Hill, protesting the Vietnam War.

Famous quote: “If I had my life to live over, I would do it all again, but this time I would be nastier.” – Jeannette Rankin