Women throughout history have been inventing, leading, organizing, creating and making the world a better place despite gender injustice. If women knew about these inspiring stories that have been kept from them, would they be bolder and have more willingness to persevere?
Throughout Women’s History Month, discover untold stories of incredible women—made possible by nonprofit Look What SHE Did! Since incorporating as a in 2015, Look What SHE Did! has produced 150+ three- to four-minute films of women telling the stories of the trailblazing women who inspire them.
This week: legendary labor activist Dolores Huerta; Mexican American journalist, activist, nurse and educator Jovita Idár; and tennis Grand Slam champion Rosie Casals. (And don’t miss previous installments on women who dissent and Black women leaders!)
Dolores Huerta and the Girl Scouts
Legendary labor activist Dolores Huerta overcame her shyness and learned to speak up and to be of service when she was in The Girl Scouts. Huerta tells us how her 10 years in the Girl Scouts with their mission to teach practical skills, make girls self-sufficient, and build character and confidence shaped her life as an outspoken leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers.
One of the highlights of Dolores’ life was receiving the Medal of Freedom on the same day Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low was posthumously awarded the same honor.
Give a listen as Dolores tells us about this enduring organization dedicated to female independence and empowerment.
Jovita Idár
Jovita Idár was a Mexican American journalist, activist, nurse and educator, born in Laredo, Texas, in 1885. Starting out as a school teacher, she went on to join her family business as a newspaper journalist, writing on topics like segregation, racism, poverty, politics, women and voting rights.
During the Mexican Revolution, Idár incurred the ire of the U.S. president after criticizing him in print—a move that prompted the Texas governor to send rangers to her door. Idár stood up for herself and her newspaper, citing her First Amendment right to freedom of speech and closed the door.
She was appalled at the treatment of ethnic Mexicans in the United States, who were routinely discriminated against and subjected to horrific violence. Her life’s work was to pursue justice and build community. She served as a nurse in the Mexican Revolution, started a Spanish-language newspaper, fought for women’s rights and so much more.
As immigrant rights organizer Beatriz Hernández lovingly says, “She was a chingona!”
When you educate a woman, you educate a family.
Beatriz Hernandez
Rosie Casals
“Five foot two (and a quarter) of pure tennis genius”—that’s how Olympian Barbra I. Higgins describes tennis Grand Slam champion Rosie Casals.
Born in San Francisco to immigrant parents from El Salvador, Rosie Casals had an unlikely start in the world of tennis. Taught by her great-uncle and longtime coach on the public courts of San Francisco, Casals became a dominant force on the tennis court and began winning championships in her teens. Although she was shorter and (by her own accounts) poorer than her fellow tennis players, she blasted past every barrier to become an absolute tennis legend.
At age 17, she was hand-selected by Billie Jean King to be her doubles partner, and the pair went on to win five subsequent Grand Slam Championships. She won 12 Grand Slam tournaments, 112 doubles championships, and was once ranked the #3 tennis player in the U.S.
Watch as Olympic fencer Barbra I. Higgins recaps Rosie Casals’ stunning career, which inspired her and countless other Latina athletes around the world.
Pure. Tennis. Genius.
Barbra I. Higgins
These videos were created by Look What SHE Did!
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