Growing up, I remember learning of the accomplishments of many people in US and world history. Invariably, those people were men. Very rarely were women discussed. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that the accomplishments of women have long been minimized or ignored. This is another way that sexism has played out in society. Denying the accomplishments of women is an insult. It treats them as if they’re unimportant…as if they haven’t contributed significantly to events throughout human history. In this ongoing series, I’ll be highlighting notable women, historically important women, and those women who ought to be more well-known. My intent is to show that women have contributed to the course of human history and ought to be recognized, rather than ignored or overlooked. Six time Olympic champion and philanthropist Jacqueline “Jackie” Joyner-Kersee is today’s Woman of the Day.
