Women's History Month Group Article

Kaia Matsubara: Amanda Gorman

Named the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States in 2017, Amanda Gorman also made history at age 22 to be the youngest inaugural poet in the U.S. to recite her highly praised poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at former President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration. At a very young age, she familiarized herself with poetry. Growing up with auditory processing disorder and a speech impediment, she persevered and turned her struggles into strengths by using poetry as a way to express herself. Being born in LA, she went to a private school and taught herself how to read and write poems. She uses her poetry as a source of activism and self-published her first poetry collection in 2015, titled The One For Whom Food Is Not Enough. She joins a long line of poets of color who inspired her, including Maya Angelou, Phyllis Wheatley, Sonia Sanchez, and so many more. She also released two books in 2021: The Hill We Climb: Poems and Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem. Gorman has recently spoken out against current political conditions and written poems for Alex Pretti and Renee Good during the I.C.E. raids in Minnesota. She continues to inspire every generation with her impactful words. 

Myles Cline: Alysa Liu

Alysa Liu was born on August 5, 2005, in Clovis, California. She started skating at the age of 5 and began taking group lessons with Laura Lipetsky, a former figure skater. At just 10 years old, she became the youngest female figure skater to earn the intermediate gold medal at the 2016 U.S. Championships. She was the youngest skater to compete in the junior division in the 2018 U.S. Championships, and won it despite having a cold and sore throat. She earned an overall score of 184.16 points, the second-highest score ever in the junior level. In August of the same year, Liu competed in the 2018 Asian Open Trophy, landing a ratified triple Axel in the free skate. She became the youngest skater to ever perform a clean triple Axel in competition and the fourth American female to do so. In her first competition of the 2019-2020 season, she became the first American female to successfully complete a quadruple Lutz in competition, and the first to complete a quadruple jump and a triple axel in the same program. During 2021, China targeted Liu for their “naturalization project” to get overseas athletes to join the Chinese Olympic team. She and her father refused, leading to them being targeted by spies, one of whom posed as a U.S. Olympic official and asked for their passports. At the 2022 Winter Olympics in the women’s event, Liu finished in 7th place. On the 9th of April, 2022, Liu announced that she was retiring from figure skating and that she felt satisfied with her career. However, this was short-lived as she returned to skating in March of 2024. This year, she competed in the Winter Olympics. Her performance was clean, winning her the free skate and winning gold. She’s the first American woman to medal in figure skating at the Olympics since 2006, and the first to win gold since 2002. Liu has accomplished much and will surely continue to be an inspiration to many. 

Mahlani Tanap: Maria Ressa 

Maria Ressa, born October 2, 1963, is a Filipino-American journalist who is known for her courage in speaking out and defending the freedom of speech and democracy. She co-founded Rappler, which is an online news organization in the Philippines that reports and alerts on government actions as well as important national news. Due to her reporting, especially during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, she faced massive online harassment and legal challenges. Despite those challenges and obstacles, Ressa never faltered in standing up for the truth and fighting for human rights. In 2021, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her role in protecting freedom of expression. 

Sara Gamini: Jeannette Rankin

Jeannette Rankin was born in Montana on June 10, 1880. She is best known as the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress. She was the oldest of seven children. As a child, she attended public school and attended the University of Montana. She graduated in 1902 and then attended the School of Philanthropy from 1908 to 1909. Once she finished school, she did many things to help women's rights and to better understand the country. She was elected to the sixty-fifth Congress in 1917 and again in 1941 for the seventy-seventh Congress. She remained a strong supporter of peace and women’s rights up until her death on May 18, 1973.

LiLi Tanap: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a famous American lawyer and Supreme Court Justice who fought for fairness and equal rights, especially for women. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and was an excellent student who worked very hard in school. Even though she graduated at the top of her law school class, she struggled to find a job because many people did not want to hire female lawyers at that time. Instead of giving up, she became a law professor and helped lead important court cases that challenged unfair laws that treated men and women differently. In 1993, she was chosen to serve on the United States Supreme Court, where she worked for many years and became known for her strong opinions and powerful dissents. Many people admired her and even called her the “Notorious RBG” because of how tough and determined she was. When she died in 2020 at the age of 87, people across the country honored her for her lifetime of hard work, courage, and dedication to justice.

Leann Gabrielle Vergara: Reiko Homma True

Dr. Reiko Homma True is a leading advocate of improving mental health care treatment aimed at  Asian-Americans while also supporting other Asian-American women who aim to pursue careers in psychology. True was born in Niigata, Japan, in 1933 and began to pursue a career in social work at the University of California, Berkeley, from which she graduated in 1964. As she entered the mental health care system, she began to see the cultural boundaries that affected the care that many Asian-Americans, as well as other minorities, received. Back then, the mental health care system didn’t take into account cultural differences and perspectives and depended largely on racial generalizations to care for those part of minority groups. True dedicated herself to improving mental health services: she lobbied local governments in San Francisco Bay leading to the creation of Oakland's Asian American Community Mental Health Program, the first mental health center in California devoted to a minority population, was a founding member of the Asian American Psychological Association in 1972, as well as a leader in the drive to establish the Board of Ethnic Minority Affairs in the American Psychological Association in 1980, and much more! She continued to mentor Asian-American women in psychology even following her retirement. True received many recognitions, such as the Okura Community Leadership Award, and in 2003, she earned the Lifetime Achievement Award, American Psychological Association’s Committee on Women in Psychology Leadership Award (1999), and recognition as an Outstanding Alumna by the Japanese American Women Alumnae of UC Berkeley (2001). As an Asian-American woman attempting to go into psychology, I look up to True’s legacy and hope to improve mental health for my community as she did.

Khoi Crow: Cindy Sherman

Cynthia Morris Sherman is a photographer most known for her photographic self-portraits. She was born in January of 1954 and lived most of her early life in Long Island before enrolling at the State University of New York. During her time at the university she majored in painting, and this eventually led her to develop her most notable style of photography. She would gather clothes from thrift stores in order to dress herself up as various characters. As the medium of paint became limiting to her, she decided to take up photography as a major instead. After she graduated, she went on to make some of her most famous photographs, like Untitled 96, in which a still of the photo was sold for $3.8 million in 2011, and Untitled 153, which was sold in 2010 for $2.7 million. Both of these stills broke the then record for the most expensive sold photograph in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Currently, she is still participating in her artistic endeavors and winning awards for her impressive photographs. 

Emily Chang: Katherine Johnson

Born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Katherine Johnson was a pioneering African-American mathematician whose work helped NASA successfully complete several missions, including the historic 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing. Johnson’s talent allowed her to skip multiple grades, attending West Virginia State University at only fifteen years old and graduating at eighteen. She earned degrees in mathematics and French, and subsequently joined NASA’s predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Being a human calculator, her aptitude was quickly recognized, and her work was invaluable to calculations regarding orbital mechanics. Being an African-American woman, she trailblazed a path for others like her to follow and broke barriers against both race and gender discrimination. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 by President Barack Obama, and her story was retold in the Oscar-nominated biographical drama Hidden Figures—along with the stories of other under-recognized women working at NASA. Regrettably, she passed away from natural causes in 2020 at the age of 101–but her life’s work and legacy remain as a testament to what can be achieved when one trusts in their ability and proves themselves through their work.

Kian De Alwis: Claudette Colvin

Claudette Colvin was born on September 5, 1939, in Montgomery, Alabama. She grew up during the time of the Jim Crow laws and was inspired by influential figures such as Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth to advocate for equal rights. Just nine months before Rosa Parks made history, Colvin also refused to give up her seat for a white passenger on a bus. In turn, she was dragged off the bus and arrested at the young age of 15. The reason why her name isn’t too popular is that Civil Rights leaders in Montgomery decided not to rally around her case due to a few factors. They saw that she was young and from a working-class background. They didn’t view her as the ideal figure to represent their cause. Rosa Parks was highlighted due to her older age, maturity, and involvement in the church. However, Colvin’s journey didn’t end there; she later became one of four plaintiffs in the Browder v. Gale federal court case of 1956. The ruling of this case resulted in the end of bus segregation in Alabama, therefore attaching her name to the legal accomplishment to desegregate buses. Claudette Colvin’s story shows that public image and media are always factors, even in protests. While she didn’t receive the spotlight, her bravery impacted generations to come. 

Jacob Cuares: Malala Yousafzai 

Malala Yousafzai, born on 12 July 1997 in Mingora, Pakistan, is a well-known Pakistani activist. Malala was the youngest person ever to be honored for the Nobel Peace Prize, winning it in 2014 at only 17 years of age. Malala Yousafzai has advocated for human rights, particularly for the education of women and children in Pakistan during a time period in which the Taliban banned small girls from getting educated. She rose in fame and gave many interviews, eventually being nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize. On October 9, 2012, Malala and two other girls were shot by a Taliban gunman in an assassination attempt. She was struck in the head by the bullet but ended up living, and her condition slowly improved over time. An overwhelming amount of international support came to Malala as a result. She used this positive attention to continue advocating for human rights and education, publishing the famous I Am Malala which sold almost 2 million copies in 2017. To this day, Malala Yousafzai continues to advocate for human rights and is one of the most influential women in the world. 

Michelle Chambers: Greta Thunberg

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, on January 3, 2003, Greta Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who focuses on climate change and other human rights violations. At a young age, Greta was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. At about eight years old, she became a vegan and, in the following years, refused to eat because of the lack of action regarding climate change. To make a greater impact in addressing climate change, leading up to the Swedish election in 2018, she started a movement known as the School Strike for Climate and weekly Friday strikes called Fridays for Future. Thunberg has spoken in numerous countries about climate change, including at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the European Parliament in Italy, and the UN Climate Event in New York City. Thunberg’s action has been credited as “the Greta effect” as she has shifted many views and behaviors regarding climate change. In addition to her environmental work, Greta has also spoken out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has shown support for Palestinians during their occupation by Israel. Globally, Thunberg is known for her passionate advocacy for action regarding climate change and humanitarian efforts. 

Conner Chinn: Whitney Houston

Born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, Whitney Houston became one of the most influential singers and women of the 1980s to the early 2000s. She has been recognized as one of the greatest vocalists ever and revolutionized R&B by introducing it to the masses, as well as breaking down the racial wall that hindered other Black artists at the time. Nicknamed “The Voice,” Houston was surrounded by musicians at an early age, as her mother, Cissy Houston, was a renowned gospel singer. By age 15, she began singing for her local church choir, before working as a part-time model. She then started performing as a vocalist for the band Material, attracting record labels because of her enchanting voice. Houston would sign with the label group Arista in 1983, releasing her first album, Whitney Houston, in 1985. Her debut album was a massive success, becoming the biggest-selling album by a debut artist, selling 25 million copies worldwide, including hits such as “How Will I Know” and “The Greatest Love of All.” This album paved the way for her receiving her first of six Grammys. In 1987, she would release her second album, Whitney, giving the world the iconic, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.” Additionally, she would star in the movie The Bodyguard in 1992, where she covered the Dolly Parton song “I Will Always Love You,” which instantly became recognizable and sold 44 million copies worldwide. In the same year, she married singer Bobby Brown, giving birth to her daughter Bobbi Brown in 1993. Unfortunately, her drug use soon became obvious, affecting her ability to perform on stage and greatly affecting her appearance. In 2010, Houston began rehab and declared herself drug-free, but would soon return to rehab a year later. She tragically passed away in 2012, found in a Beverly Hills hotel on February 11. Whitney Houston leaves behind a legacy as one of the greatest performers of all time, some of the best singles of the 90s, and a voice that never failed to leave her crowd in awe. 

Gianna Marie Montesclaros: Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse was a British singer and songwriter known for her powerful, soulful voice and deep personal lyrics. Born on September 15, 1983, in London, England, Amy Winehouse grew up in a family that loved music, especially jazz. She was heavily influenced by artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, which shaped her style from a young age. Amy began singing early and attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where her talent stood out. As a teenager, she started writing her own songs and was eventually signed to a record label in her early twenties.

She rose to international fame with her 2006 album Back to Black, which blended soul, jazz, and R&B influences and earned her multiple Grammy Awards. Amy was celebrated for her distinctive style, bold personality, and raw honesty in songs that explored love, heartbreak, and personal struggles. Although she faced very public battles with substance abuse and intense media scrutiny, her music continues to resonate with listeners around the world. She challenged expectations placed on women in the music industry. She refused to conform to polished pop-star stereotypes and embraced individuality—both musically and personally. Her willingness to be vulnerable in her songwriting gave many women permission to speak openly about their own emotions and experiences. Even after her passing at the age of 27 due to alcohol poisoning on July 23, 2011, her legacy continues on through her influence on modern female artists and her contribution to reshaping how women express authenticity in music. Amy Winehouse’s story reminds us of the importance of artistic freedom, self-expression, and the impact women can have on culture and creativity.

Sophia Rasson: Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart is a notable figure who is known for being the first woman to drive solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Born on July 24, 1897 in Atchison, Kansas, Earhart grew up already holding a strong sense of independence. She often defied traditional expectations placed on young women during her time. She acted unconventional and was defined as a tomboy, climbing trees and going out in nature. Earhart began gaining her own kind of independence, and began her passion for flying after seeing a plane fly at the age of 10. In 1921, Earhart began her first flying lesson and was determined to create record setting achievements. By 1932, she reached her prime when she became the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. Battling icy winds and mechanical difficulties through the grueling 15 hour journey, she was able to capture the world's attention and break barriers. Setting speed and altitude records, Earhart also co-founded The Ninety Nones to support women pilots. This company then became one of the most important organizations for women in aviation, connecting women pilots across the country through opportunities, advice, and stereotype rejection. Despite her successful career, Earhart disappeared after an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Taking place in 1937, her disappearance still remains an undiscovered mystery. Though her impact had been cut short, her legacy still remains as one of the largest symbols of ambition and encouragement. Earhart was known as a pursuit of equality, reminding generations of people that their dreams are always possible.