History


[Image description: Hélène Gordon-Lazareff, an early cover of Elle, and a contemporary issue of Elle.] Via appl-lachaise.net, magazinedesigning.com, and Unsplash
[Image description: Hélène Gordon-Lazareff, an early cover of Elle, and a contemporary issue of Elle.] Via appl-lachaise.net, magazinedesigning.com, and Unsplash

Fashion can thank feminism for its leading magazine

Rebecca Azad
A collage of a few of India's political activists and freedom fighters; Jhansi ki Rani (left), Sarojini Naidu (middle), and Kasturba Gandhi (right).
A collage of a few of India's political activists and freedom fighters; Jhansi ki Rani (left), Sarojini Naidu (middle), and Kasturba Gandhi (right).

The Indian Independence movement was possible thanks to these women

Natalia Ahmed
[Image Description: A boy in a refugee camp in Delhi during the Partition in 1947.] via Margaret Bourke-White, Life Magazine
[Image Description: A boy in a refugee camp in Delhi during the Partition in 1947.] via Margaret Bourke-White, Life Magazine

The “alternative” history of the Partition that school didn’t tell you about

Safa Shoaib
[Image Description: Illustration of Queen Arawelo by Rachel Idzerda. No known portraits of Queen Arawelo exist, artwork was inspired by contemporary imagery and descriptions.] Via The Washington Post
[Image Description: Illustration of Queen Arawelo by Rachel Idzerda. No known portraits of Queen Arawelo exist, artwork was inspired by contemporary imagery and descriptions.] Via The Washington Post

This Somalian queen took girl power to a whole new level

Rebecca Azad
[Image description: Wilma Rudolph running in the Olympics.] Via folks.pillpack.com
[Image description: Wilma Rudolph running in the Olympics.] Via folks.pillpack.com

How my great-aunt Wilma Rudolph changed the world

Tori B. Powell
[Image description: Dr. Gisella Perl on the cover of her book, “I Was A Doctor in Auschwitz”.] Via Wikipedia
[Image description: Dr. Gisella Perl on the cover of her book, “I Was A Doctor in Auschwitz”.] Via Wikipedia

This gynecologist was Auschwitz’s only salvation

Advaita Chaudhari
[image description: painting of a Japanese woman sitting on the floor in a green and blue kimono.] via Wikimedia Commons
[image description: painting of a Japanese woman sitting on the floor in a green and blue kimono.] via Wikimedia Commons

Japan’s first empress feigned convention to wield her power

Amanda Justice
A manuscript illustration of Marie de France as a woman in white and blue clothing, sitting on a bench and writing in a book.
A manuscript illustration of Marie de France as a woman in white and blue clothing, sitting on a bench and writing in a book.

No one knows who Marie de France was, but we should know what she wrote

Helena Ong
[Image Description: Painting of blonde woman sitting with a blue background] Painting of Queen Medb, by J. Leyendecker, 1916.
[Image Description: Painting of blonde woman sitting with a blue background] Painting of Queen Medb, by J. Leyendecker, 1916.

Meet the badass Irish warrior queen Medb

Amanda Justice
[Image description: Black and white image of Nelson Mandela wearing a suit and holding his fist in the air.] via Google Images
[Image description: Black and white image of Nelson Mandela wearing a suit and holding his fist in the air.] via Google Images

Here is what South Africa would be like if the Mandela Effect was real

Luale Monze
[Image description: People in Paris on Bastille Day.] Via Unsplash
[Image description: People in Paris on Bastille Day.] Via Unsplash

Bastille Day is a reminder of France’s violent history

Laurie Melchionne
[image description: painting of redhead woman sitting on couch with a sword in her lap] via Wikimedia Commons
[image description: painting of redhead woman sitting on couch with a sword in her lap] via Wikimedia Commons

Your history class never told you about this French bisexual badass

Amanda Justice