From professional athletes and inventors to politicians and artists, these historical groundbreakers are just a few of the many women who have helped pave the way for other females to succeed.
- Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823-1893). An abolitionist and the first black female newspaper editor in the U.S.
- Jessie Tarbox (1870-1942). A pioneer in photography and the first female to be hired as a staff photographer for a U.S. newspaper.
- Caresse Crosby (1891-1970). Inventor of the modern bra and an author who established a successful publishing company with her husband, Harry.
- Dorothy Arzner (1897-1979). A pioneer in the film industry and the first woman to join the Directors Guild of America.
- Dorothy Dandridge (1922-1965). A popular singer and actress and the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for best actress.
- Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005). The first black woman congresswoman and the first African-American female to run for president.
- Janet Guthrie (1938- ). The first female professional race car driver to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500.
- Sally Ride (1951-2012). An astronaut, astrophysicist and the first American woman in space.
- Elaine Chao (1953- ). George W. Bush’s Secretary of Labor and the first Asian-American woman to serve in a cabinet-level position. iBi
Source: biography.com