Julia Adams - Adventurers and Athletes

CONTENTS

Amelia Earhart (page 38)

AWESOME WOMEN

The course of history is packed with stories of women overcoming odds, defying expectations, and shattering stereotypes. Yet, all too often, their contribution has been overlooked, underplayed, or just forgotten.

Anne Bonny (page 19)

Many cultures have believed (or still believe) that women do not need an education, cannot be trusted with leadership, are physically inferior, and are intellectually weak. Men have been privileged, and this means that they have been the worlds default decision-makers and history writers. Women, however, have been achieving greatness even when everything seemed against them.

The adventurers and athletes in this book are by no means the definitive list of female historymakers, nor are they perfect and without fault, but they are pioneers who stood out, made a difference, and proved without a doubt that they were just as capable as men. Their contributions, both to their field and as an inspiration to others, are worthy of celebration. And that is what this book aims to do.

Misty Copeland (page 26)

Junko Tabei (page 36)

ADVENTURERS AND ATHLETES

History books are packed with real-life male action heroesexplorers, generals, spies, and sports starsbut where are the female ones? Many women have excelled in these areas, often against all odds.

Yusra Mardini (page 16)

The energetic high achievers in this book went above and beyond to prove their power. Whether they were floating in space, scaling a mountain, steering a faulty plane over the ocean, or redefining a whole sport, they faced challenges with courage. They believed in themselves, and that made anything possible. Sometimes these women risked their lives for their ideals. Some crossed enemy lines with fake identities to help their countries win a warand they all refused to shrink their ambitions to fit silly notions of feminine frailty.

Sacagawea (page 28)

Some overcame disabilities to win medal after medal in Paralympian sportsshowing us, in the process, that physical prowess has a lot to do with attitude. By boldly ignoring all those restrictive rules about what women can and cannot do, these extraordinary role models have opened up the world to us all.

Chantal Petitclerck (page 32)

MAKING HISTORY

Who do you think of when you picture a great adventurer? Christopher Colombus? How about when you think of a great sportsperson? Usain Bolt? Lionel Messi? Or perhaps you think of Jessica Ennis, a gold-medalwinning heptathlete? Well, there are all sorts of women who fall into this category along with the men. These pages are going to introduce you to many brave and inspiring female athletes and adventurers.

IDA PFEIFFER

(1797 1858)

B orn in Vienna, Austria, Ida was treated in exactly the same way as her many brothers: she wore boys clothes, had the same education, and was encouraged to be physically strong and independent. She dreamed of far-off places after a childhood trip to Palestine and Egypt.

Ida married and had a family. Once her sons had grown up and had families of their own, she was free. She decided to travel. First she went to Turkey, Jerusalem, and Egypt. She published her memories of the trip and used the money for a trip to Iceland. Ida journeyed around the world twice. Her trips could last months or even years, and she paid for them by publishing her travel journals. She also sold specimens of animals, plants, and minerals.

VERA ATKINS

(1908-2000)

B orn in Romania, Vera Maria Rosenberg moved to Britain with her parents in 1933. Her mother was English and Vera later took her English maiden name, Atkins. She was educated well in England and France, studying modern languages.

When World War II broke out, Vera joined the Womens Auxiliary Air Force. Later she went to work at Section F. This was an important branch of the Special Operations Executive, an organization set up to run secret operations in occupied countries. Her job was recruiting spies to gather intelligence in France. She became deputy and assistant to the head of the SOE and was vital to its operations. Vera was a key secret agent of World War II. She was dedicated to her work and had a strong sense of duty. After the war, she visited France in person to find out what had happened to British agents who went missing there.