History That's More Than 2-Dimensional.

Rating: PG-13

Cut Nyak Dhien (1848-1908)

The Mother of Indonesian Revolution

When her (second) rebel husband was killed, this heroine of Indonesian revolution took over the fight against the Dutch.

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.

Arwa al-Sulayhi (c.1048-1131)

The Mother of Yemen's Golden Age

The greatest ruler of Yemeni history, she defeated her numerous foes to usher the country into its golden age.

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.

Neerja Bhanot (1963-1986)

Heroine of the Hijack

When terrorists hijacked her plane, she gave her life to save it, becoming the youngest recipient of India's highest honor.

Micaela Bastidas (1741-1781)

The Brains of the Tupac Amaru Rebellion

The strident partner of the eponymously-named Tupac Amaru Rebellion of native peoples against the Spanish, she handled army and bureaucratic logistics with an unmatched efficiency. Cut Content: Tupac Amaru’s Demands His demands were surprisingly minimal: he primarily wanted less enforced labor and a court closer to where he lived, so he wouldn’t have to trek... Read more »

Empress Myeongseong (1851-1895)

The Queen Who Fought to Save Korea

Picked to be an impotent figurehead, this savvy intellectual quickly learned how to play politics and modernized the nation to ward off invasion.

Marguerite de la Rocque (mid-16th century)

The Woman Who Survived Years On An Abandoned Island

Stranded by her cruel relative on an abandoned Canadian island (literally named the Isle of Demons), she survived for two years by hunting animals and eventually made it back to France.