Influential Events/Figures in Women's U.S. History

Marilyn Monroe:

Marilyn Monroe was arguably one of the most famous women of the 20th Century, and certainly the most famous in the entertainment industry. In the relatively short span of fifteen years, Monroe was a part of thirty films, before dying due to mysterious circumstances. She was an icon of the film industry, arguably proving that women could be just as big stars on the silver screen as men could, making half of the films that John Wayne was a part of in a much shorter time frame. Monroe would also be named the 'World Film Favourite' at the 1962 Golden Globe Awards, cementing her status as an icon of the industry. As well as proving further that women could easily do what men could do, Marilyn Monroe also defied the stereotypical image of a Hollywood woman; where most of her compatriots were thin to the point of anorexia and layered in makeup, Monroe was curvaceous and did little in the way of makeup, showing that women could defy the stereotype and still be beautiful. Marilyn has even been cited numerous times as one of the most beautiful women in history, an outstanding legacy to have.

   Female Representation in Politics:

Despite women gaining the right to vote with the 19th Amendment, they still had virtually no presence in national politics. Most women arguably relied on the First Lady of whichever President it was at the time to make their voices and concerns heard in Congress. However, during the 20th Century, this gradually changed. Eleanor Roosevelt, wife and First Lady to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, became a seasoned politician during her tenure, often touring the slums of American cities to try and figure out how to improve them, and she was also the director of the Bureau of Women's Activities in the Democratic Party, cementing herself as one of the most powerful women in national politics. Eleanor Roosevelt arguably kick-started the trend of First Ladies being as powerful as the men they were married too, with such examples as Jackie Kennedy, who brought grace and humility to the role of First Lady, Hillary Clinton, who was an advocate of a free national healthcare system during the presidency of her husband Bill Clinton, and especially Michelle Obama, who was a champion of women's rights, black rights and children's rights during her time as the first black First Lady in history.


Sources
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3712.html
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1590.html