How many historical figures can you name? How many of those are women? If you didn’t name any, that’s okay – you’re not the only one. If you did name any, I bet I can guess their names. You may have named Anne Frank, Harriet Tubman or even Amelia Earhart. 

While all those women are very important, there are plenty of lesser known women who are equally important such as Jane Addams, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who helped to found the Hull House, advocate for labor reform and pioneered social work. Or Sybil Ludington, who rode nearly 40 miles on horseback to warn the militia that the British were approaching in 1777. Or Lucretia Mott, who co-organized the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls and was a prominent abolitionist. 

All of these women made great contributions to events and topics we have heard about, but rarely do we hear their names. According to the National Women’s History Museum, as of 2021, out of 737 total historical figures taught in schools, only 178 women were named in state standards, 63% of which are white. 

With the recent cuts to education funding and politically motivated efforts to erase women and other minorities from history, these numbers could continue to shrink. One popular historical era this disparity is ever present in is almost all accounts of royal history. When you learned about the monarchy and the defining events of these empires, you probably heard about the kings, their advisors, the wars they fought and maybe (and that’s a strong maybe) the names or origins of their wives. 

But this was likely only to advance your understanding of why they had an alliance or started a war. However, these women in power were not only vital to alliances, but also decision making. And behind them, there were more women who contributed to this. In the book “The Waiting Game” by Nicola Clark, Clark details the many challenges ladies-in-waiting faced while serving in court, and how their roles influenced political decisions. These women were integral to the marriages that formed alliances, rumors that started wars and the everyday decisions that defined how the monarchy operated. Without those women being involved, the history we know today could be very different. 

The exclusion of women from our historical education skews how we understand and interpret this era because we do not have all the information. Without observing the relationships between ladies in waiting and royalty, it is difficult to understand the attitudes and societal expectations of the time. As well, these exclusions make it hard for many women to find themselves interested in their history class. Similar to how you’re more likely to watch a show or read a book about someone you can see yourself in, it is easier to understand the historical context and impacts of something when you can make connections between yourself and those involved.

 So, tell me, how is a little girl supposed to become immersed in her history class when all she’s learning about is old white men? The simple answer is, she is not. When young girls and minorities do not see themselves in history books for any reason other than to talk about how inconsequential they were to important events or how only their marriages were influential, what does that tell them? That they are unimportant? Only good to marry a man and have kids (but only boys) to serve in the army? 

As high school senior Miceala Wells asked in an opinion essay for the Washington Post, “How can a young girl be what she cannot see? How can we expect society to value women when we neglect the accomplishments and contributions of the ones that paved the way?” So why don’t we teach young people, or people of any age, about Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to U.S. Congress and a leader in the women’s suffrage movement? She was also the only member of congress to vote against the U.S. entry into both World Wars. Why don’t we learn about Alice Ball, an American chemist who developed the first effective injectable treatment for leprosy? 

Women have long been ignored and overlooked compared to men. But oftentimes, their contributions were just as, if not more,  important than their male counterparts, or their contributions were stolen by men. Yet, they’re just as important to history and an indispensable piece of learning. This is why it is vital to take the time to educate yourself on the lesser known history and push your peers to do the same.