I recently posted about Molly Kool, the first North American female sea captain. Today the BBC News announced that Sarah West will become the Royal Navy’s first woman warship commander with the HMS Portland in Scotland. In addition, Royal Navy Commander Sue Moore recently became the first woman to command a squadron of minor war vessels, the First Patrol Boat Squadron. Women first went to sea with the Royal Navy in 1990 and will join men in submarines in 2013.
More “first” women in the News
Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th century German, was the first woman to be recognized as a prophetess by the Roman Catholic Church. Hildegard has inspired both church leaders and feminists for years. Although, she has been considered a saint for centuries, she has now been officially recognized as a saint by Pope Benedict XVI.
Kateri Tekakwitha (1656 – 1680) was the first Native American to be venerated by the Roman Catholic Church and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980. Pope Benedict XVI has set Oct, 21 as the date to make her a saint along with Mother Marianne Cope who cared for leprosy patients in Hawaii for many years.
The Aligarh Muslim University in India, has elected S Chandni Bi, assistant professor of history, to the executive council of the AMUTA (Aligarh Muslim Unversity Teachers Association). She is the first woman elected to this position and her election was unopposed.
When Marlen Esparza defeated Luu Thi Duyen of Vietnam in the Women’s World Championships on May 15, she became the first female boxer to qualify for the US Olympic boxing team. “It’s a big step — not really just for boxing, but for women in general,” Esparza told 713News, ” it’s just an honor, first of all, to represent your country. It’s an even bigger honor to be the first in that position and also being female.”
Women are still making history! Do you know of other women who are first in their field? Please comment and let us know.