New York City has only five statues honoring female historical figures. (There are 145 male historical statues.) The five statues include Joan of Arc, Golda Meir, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman, and the American author Gertrude Stein, pictured above at Bryant Park. Stein’s placement near the New York Public Library reflects her significant literary contributions, including plays, librettos, film scripts, and novels, as well as her influence on American writers. But Stein (and the others) won’t be alone for too much longer. This week during the start of Women’s History Month, NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray announced four more permanent monuments (along with the previously announced statue of Representative Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress) that will honor "the trailblazing women who have helped shape New York City." The statues will depict Billie Holiday, the iconic singer; Elizabeth Jennings Graham, who fought racial segregation in 19th century New York City; Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías, a leader in pediatrics and public health; and Katherine Walker, one of the first female light house keepers who is credited with saving at least fifty people. "We cannot tell the story of New York City without recognizing the invaluable contributions of the women who helped build and shape it," McCray told reporters at a press conference. “In honoring these four trailblazers today, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to see powerful women who made history receive the recognition they deserve."
Fearless Girl
Fearless Girl by Kristen Visbal.
In time for International Women's Day, artist Kristen Visbal created the bronze statue standing defiantly in front of the iconic Wall Street bull. The already popular statue, which is only scheduled to be on display for a week, was commissioned by State Street Global Advisors, a nearly $2.5 trillion investor and asset manager, for a campaign aimed at getting company boards to increase the number of members who are women. The money manager says it may vote against boards if a company fails to add female board members, and will send a letter to 3,500 companies asking the companies to act. "One of the most iconic images on Wall Street is the charging bull," Lori Heinel, State Street's deputy global chief investment officer, tells Business Insider. "So the idea of having a female sort of stand against the bull or stand up to the bull just struck us as a very clever but also creative and engaging way to make that statement. Even though it's a little girl, her stance is one of determination, forwardness, and being willing to challenge and take on the status quo."
Quotes In Honor of International Women's Day
"We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls: ‘You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful. Otherwise, you will threaten the man.'...Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage. I am expected to make my life choices, always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important. Now, marriage can be a good thing, it can be a source of joy and love and mutual support, but why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don’t teach boys the same?"
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
TEDxEuston: We Should All Be Feminists
“[W]e need to reclaim the word 'feminism.' We need the word 'feminism' back real bad. When statistics come in saying that only 29% of American women would describe themselves as feminist—and only 42% of British women—I used to think, What do you think feminism IS, ladies? What part of 'liberation for women' is not for you? Is it freedom to vote? The right not to be owned by the man you marry? The campaign for equal pay? 'Vogue' by Madonna? Jeans? Did all that good shit GET ON YOUR NERVES? Or were you just DRUNK AT THE TIME OF SURVEY?"
- Caitlin Moran
How to Be a Woman
"And so I hope that my presence on your screens and in the magazines may lead you, young girl, on a similar journey. That you will feel the validation of your external beauty but also get to the deeper business of being beautiful inside. There is no shade in that beauty."
- Lupita Nyong’o
"Black Women in Hollywood" Acceptance Speech