I'm going to share a secret, and for those who know me, you probably won't be too surprised...The current influencer trends bewilder me a bit. The concept that a person, because of their virtual presence, has such sway over ideas, fashion, and politics is really wild...let me explain why...
March is Women's History Month and I'm going to go out on a limb to call Sarah Josepha Hale, Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Blackwell, Marie Curie, Jane Austen, Sarah Breedlove, Saint Catherine of Siena and many other remarkable women from the past the "Original Influencers". The hard work, drive, determination, accomplishments, and perseverance of these women from history has completely influenced the lives we lead today.
Our favorite task for She Said It is researching and finding the quotes that we feature in the artwork. I just finished a biography, The Doctor's Blackwell, by Janice P. Nimura. Sisters, Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell, are the subject. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States and younger sister, Emily, also earned a medical degree. It's a fascinating book as it it details the challenges that both women had to overcome to become doctors. I have new respect for what both women achieved and the hardships they faced. But how was Elizabeth Blackwell an "Original Influencer"? She demonstrated that women could successfully attend (only men were allowed to attend medical school - her first challenge was simply being allowed to attend) and graduate from medical school (first in her class, by the way). She continued her training in London and Paris....imagine the rigors of travel, not to mention the working conditions in Paris in the 1940's....Would you be able to handle it? I'm pretty sure I could not. But Elizabeth Blackwell did, shared her story, and encouraged other women (including her younger sister) to follow her. Don't you agree that she was an "Original Influencer"?
As we look forward to March and Women's History Month, I do hope we can all take a moment and reflect on the important contributions women have influenced throughout the centuries.
And, yes, there's a She Said It card coming featuring a quote from Elizabeth Blackwell -- it's part of a new series of birthday cards that Anna just wrapped up. They're fun, light, and a little humorous. Watch for those soon!
Kathryn