4 Inspirational Stories of Women Who Changed the World

I often look at my rambunctious 5-year-old daughter and wonder what she’ll someday become. If you’re a parent, you probably know that exact feeling. You watch their curiosity and quiet thoughtfulness, followed by a sudden burst of energy, usually involving some sort of flip off a piece of furniture. You just know that with all the exceptional qualities they possess, they’re destined for something special.

I imagine the mothers of these four remarkable women once looked at their daughters with the same admiration and love. As a mom, I can’t help but wonder what they were like as children. Each of these women experienced a pivotal moment early in life—an event that sparked something deep inside and shaped the path they would ultimately follow. Whether inspired by a mother’s strength and compassion, a sense of justice, a fascination with science, or a love for storytelling, they held tight to their purpose, no matter the obstacles.

These stories remind us of what’s possible for our daughters. Here are four women who led the way:

Susan La Flesche Picotte: Medical Doctor and Social Reformer

In June of 1865, a baby girl was born in a tipi to Mary and Chief Joseph La Flesche, the last formal chief of the Omaha Tribe. That baby girl, named Susan, would grow up to become the first Native American physician, treating more than 1,240 patients and providing care across 1,350 square miles, traveling by horse or buggy.

Susan grew up during a pivotal time when many Native Americans felt the pressure to merge traditional ways with the encroaching Western civilization. Her father believed that his people’s success and survival depended on their ability to adapt to this new world. This push for assimilation created a fracture within the tribe, dividing them into two groups: the Young Men’s Party, which was open to the adoption of some European customs, and the Chief’s Party, which remained loyal to traditions.

In what was called the “Village of the Make-Believe White Men,” Susan was raised in a log cabin. She learned to balance two worlds, honoring Omaha traditions and culture while learning different languages and becoming well-versed in Scripture and Shakespeare. Although she loved her people, she couldn’t ignore the poor living conditions and their impact on health. At just 8 years old, after witnessing an elderly Native woman die after a white doctor refused to come, Susan found her calling: She would become a doctor for all people, no matter whether they were Native or white.

Formal medical training was rare for women at the time and unheard of for Native American women, but Susan was determined. She graduated as valedictorian of her medical class from the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. When she returned home, she cared for her people, raising awareness about important health issues like good hygiene and food sanitation. She advocated for changes such as installing window screens to keep out disease-carrying flies and banning communal drinking cups, all of which helped improve the mortality rates and health of her people.

Susan passed away in September 1915, but not before fulfilling her lifelong dream: building the first modern hospital in Thurston County. With two general wards, five private wards, a maternity ward, and an operating room, the hospital was a groundbreaking facility. Today, it serves as a museum but stands as a testament to Susan’s unwavering commitment to and compassion for the Omaha people.

Grace Murray Hopper: Mathematician and Computer Scientist

Did you know that Grace Murray Hopper helped shape the technology we use every day? A brilliant naval officer, educator, and computer pioneer, Hopper played an essential role in supporting the Navy during World War II (WWII) by performing top-secret calculations on the first U.S. electromechanical computer, the IBM Mark I.

Born in 1906 in New York City, Hopper began her remarkable journey by earning master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics from Yale, all while teaching at Vassar College. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the U.S.’s entry into WWII, she was inspired to join the Navy. Initially, Hopper was rejected due to her size and age, but her persistence paid off, and she was granted a waiver to join the Naval Reserve, where she was assigned to the Bureau of Ships Computation Project at Harvard.

Hopper quickly proved herself to be a central figure in the evolution of computing. She developed the first compiler, A-0, which translated mathematical code into machine-readable language. She also proposed the idea of using English words instead of symbols for programming and was part of the team that created the first word-based programming language. These were essential steps toward modern programming and paved the way for wider accessibility in computing, particularly for business uses for people without engineering or math backgrounds. Hopper was ultimately recalled to active service to assist in the standardization of the Navy’s multiple computer languages and programs.

Throughout her life, Hopper received more than 40 honorary degrees and numerous awards, including Yale’s Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the National Medal of Technology—becoming the first woman to receive it individually.

Always a visionary when it came to the limitless potential of computers, Hopper once said in a 60 Minutes interview in 1983, “… we’re only at the beginning.” And she was right.

Octavia Butler: Writer

Octavia Butler is a renowned African American author widely regarded as a pioneer of Afrofuturism—a subgenre of science fiction that explores themes of Black injustice, global warming, women’s rights, and political inequality. Her works have gained prominence in academia, are taught at more than 200 colleges and universities, and many have been adapted for television, opera, and other media.

Despite her success and recognition, including honors such as the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, the PEN West Lifetime Achievement Award, the Nebula Award, and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, her journey was anything but easy.

Octavia struggled with dyslexia and felt left behind in school, often disinterested in the books she was expected to read. Everything changed when she received a library card and began choosing her own books. Inspired by the stories she read, she began jotting down her own whenever she had time, sparking a lifelong love for writing.

A significant moment came when a teacher encouraged her to submit a story to a science fiction magazine, and Octavia began to believe in herself—that she could become a professional writer. After studying at the University of California, Los Angeles, she continued to write short stories while working various jobs, including dishwasher, telemarketer, and potato chip inspector, to support herself. She would rise at 2 AM to write, highlighting her passion and dedication.

Later, in a PBS interview, Octavia shared this important advice that captured her approach to writing: “Do the thing that you love and do it as well as you possibly can and be persistent about it.”

Dolores Huerta: Labor Leader and Activist

Known as one of the most influential labor activists of the 20th century and a leader of the Chicano civil rights movement, Dolores Huerta’s activism was inspired by her mother’s compassion for workers and her own experiences with discrimination.

Born in 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, Huerta became a schoolteacher after earning an associate teaching degree from the University of the Pacific’s Delta College. However, after spending a brief time teaching, Huerta was troubled by the number of hungry farm children in her classroom, and this inspired her to take action, sparking her lifelong commitment to activism.

In 1955, Huerta co-founded the Stockton chapter of the Community Service Organization (CSO), working to increase voter registration and fight for economic improvements for Hispanic communities. She also founded the Agricultural Workers Association and later cofounded the National Farm Workers Association with Cesar Chávez. She served as vice president of its successor, the United Farm Workers Union (UFW).

While serving at the UFW, Huerta negotiated labor contracts, advocated for safer working conditions, pushed for the elimination of harmful pesticides, and fought for unemployment and healthcare benefits. She also led a nationwide consumer boycott of grapes, which resulted in the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975, allowing farm workers to form unions and bargain for better wages and working conditions.

Huerta received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among many others. To this day, Huerta speaks out on critical social issues, such as income inequality and immigration, and continues to inspire others to take action.

Be Inspired, Take Action, and Make a Difference

What struck me the most about these four women was how remarkably different their journeys were. Each possessed unique qualities and followed their own path, yet they all shared an unwavering determination, incredible courage, and unshakable strength.

Their lives remind us that greatness can take on many forms. As parents, we have the opportunity to nurture the same potential in our children. Whether it’s storytelling, science, or caring for others, we can support their interests and help shape the foundation that could someday define their future.

Let’s build up our daughters and sons by continuing to share inspirational stories like those of the four women above. Let’s remind them that they are strong, intelligent, kind, and capable, and that they, too, are destined for great things.

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