Corn Maiden Native American Maize Goddess This mythical Native American woman saved her loved ones from starvation with delicious magical leprosy - a fact that led to, shall we say, complications.
Beloved Ghost of the Chokecherry Tree The ghost of a tragically-murdered young child come back to haunt her mother in post-slavery America.
Hatshepsut (1508-1458 BCE) The Unforgettable Pharaoh One of the greatest pharaohs to ever live, she built up Egypt so much that a generations-long sustained effort to erase her from history couldn't do the trick.
Vera Peters (1911-1993) Mother of the Modern Mastectomy When she was told to "go do women's work" after upstaging the medical community in her treatment of Hodgkin's disease, Dr. Vera Peters revolutionized breast cancer treatment through years of painstaking, meticulous work.
Velu Nachiyar (1730-1796) The Mom Who Made a Bomb With a dead husband and a hostile foreign country on her hands, this Indian queen did the unthinkable - turned her loyal servants into some of the first suicide bombers in recorded history.
Trinidad Tecson (1848-1928) Mother of the Philippine Red Cross Turned into a revolutionary in middle age, this mother became one of the Philippines most heralded women.
Te Ao-Kapurangi (19th century) The Mother Who Stuffed Her House Abducted from her tribe, this Maori woman managed to save her kinsmen and stop a war - by straddling a roof and cramming the house underneath.
Susan la Flesche Picotte (1865-1915) The Mom Who Built a Hospital The first Native American medical doctor endured back-breaking labor, years spent alone, and institutional racism to better the lives of her people.
Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) The Mother Who Sued to Save Her Kids When her kid was stolen from her, this ex-slave successfully sued to get him back; she then went on to become a forceful speaker for abolition across the United States.
Savitribai Phule (1831-1897) The Mother Who Fought the Caste System In fighting the bias of the caste system to spread education, this woman brought knowledge to girls across India.