WOMEN'S
History Month
For our readers who identify as witches - this is our month ladies! March is Women’s History Month in the muggle United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. Even more, International Women’s Day is March 8 which our magazine will celebrate with a full day of posts online. Though we here at Witch Weekly celebrate those identifying as women every month (magical and muggle alike), we want to take the time to highlight some notable moments in women's history:
Magical History:
- 990, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw were two of the founding members of Hogwarts.
- In 1252, Bridget Wenlock discovers the magical properties of the number 7.
- Alberta Toothill beats Samson Wilbin in a duel to become the most decorated (to date!) dueling witch in 1430.
- In the 1500s, witches were burned at the stake by muggles at a rate of 4:1 compared to wizards.
- Since the Wizard's council was established in 1707, witches have held positions in magical government.
- Modern witches have begun calling on the use of the word “magical” in place of "wizarding", citing that not only does magic exist in beings beyond human, but that witches have played an integral part of the history of magic.
Muggle United Kingdom:
- Interesting fact: the UK almost always has a queen but does not require a king to rule - the spouses of queens that inherit the throne may only advance to the title of prince.. One of the most famous female monarchs, Queen Elizabeth ruled for 45 years and spoke at least 7 languages
- 1818: Mary Shelley anonymously published the first science fiction novel - Frankenstein.
- Women’s suffrage came in stages for the UK. In 1918, women over the age of 30 were allowed to vote only if they were or were married to a member of government. Ten years later, all women were accorded the same voting rights as men.
- Joan Clarke was one of the key codebreakers of Enigma in the muggle second world war and continued working in numasmatics until she retired at the age of 60.
Muggle United States:
- 1639: Margaret Brent becomes the first female landowner in the United States
- Women received the ability to vote in 1920 with the 19th amendment to the US Constitution. This is to note, however, that the women of New Jersey were allowed to vote from 1776 until 1807.
- Sarah Winnemucca becomes the first Native American woman published author and copyright holder. Her activism helped free the Paiute people from the Yakima Reservation.
- In 1951, researchers took cell samples from Henrietta Lacks who was being treated for cancer. These cells, named HeLa cells, have turned into an “immortal” line for research helping with many scientific advancements. She and her family were never compensated, but her contribution to science and health has been increasingly recognized over the past few years.
Muggle Austalia:
- 1899: Fanny Cochrane Smith, of Aboriginal origin, makes the first recording of Tasmanian Aboriginal song and speech on wax cyclinders.
- The Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902 allows women to vote and hold office in Australia.
- Edith Cowan was a politician and the first woman elected to an Australian parliament in 1920.
- 1935: Dame Jean Macnamara was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire after decades of devotion to the advancement of children’s health and research helping to develop the polio vaccine.
To keep in touch with women’s history all through the year, check out Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls on Facebook!
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- Elsbeth Riverspell