History That's More Than 2-Dimensional.

Content Warning: Abuse

Molly Craig (c.1917-2004)

The Mother Who Walked Across Australia (Twice)

The daughter of an aboriginal woman and a white man, her race led her to be kidnapped by the Australian government - only for her to escape and walk across the continent to get home... twice.

Marsha P. Johnson (1944-1992)

Godmother of the Trans Civil Rights Movement

This cheery godmother of trans civil rights masked a dark past of abuse.

Marie Equi (1872-1952)

The Mom Who Broke Every Taboo She Could

Once upon a time, there was a lesbian Wild West abortion doctor. She once horsewhipped a guy in the face and was tossed in San Quentin Prison for sedition. To the surprise of no one, she lived in Portland.

Mandukhai Khatun (1448-1510)

The Mother Who United the Mongol Tribes

Destined to be a mere political pawn, this Mongol queen rode into battle while pregnant, united the warring tribes, and was considered to be the second coming of Genghis Khan.

Irena Sendler (1910-2008)

Mother of the Children of the Holocaust

This Polish nurse sacrificed her safety, her marriage, her very family to save 2500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust.

Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977)

The Mother Who Marched

This uneducated, impoverished activist suffered unbelievable abuse in her journey to be able to vote -- but that did not stop her.

Carolina Maria de Jesus (1914-1977)

The Mother Who Wrote Her Way Out Of Poverty

Brash, funny, and difficult, this mother of three wrote her way out of extreme poverty with her uncompromising look at Brazilian society - and was alternately lauded and berated for it.

Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007)

Mother of Pakistan

The exiled daughter of a deposed ruler, she could have been a fairytale bridge between worlds - but fairy tales are not real. Benazir, whose name means "without flaw," was anything but.

Angela Jimenez (1896-1982)

The Mom Who Lived a Dozen Lives

Tomboy, daughter, spy, soldier, foster mom, innkeeper, gold miner, nurse, activist; veteran: Angela Jimenez doesn't need a movie so much as a mini-series.

Ada Blackjack (1898-1983)

The Mother Who Survived the Arctic

The lone survivor of an ill-fated scientific expedition, this Inuit woman persevered for two years on a remote arctic island in order to get money to treat her ill son.