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First major feminist text defending women’s intelligence, agency, and worth. Written by one of Europe’s first professional female authors.
Literature -
She gained fame during a time when women weren’t allowed to study anatomy, paint nude models, or join formal art academies. Her self-portraits were not just artworks — they were statements of identity, education, and artistic legitimacy. -
The painting depicts the biblical story of Judith, a Jewish heroine, who kills the Assyrian general Holofernes to save her people.
In this moment, Judith and her maidservant forcefully hold Holofernes down while cutting off his head. -
A pioneering philosopher and scientist, Cavendish challenges male-dominated intellectual life, showing that femininity can coexist with scientific thought. showing that women could be bold thinkers and creators, not limited to the passive or domestic roles society expected. -
The first major feminist manifesto argues that women deserve education and rational agency, redefining femininity in both political and intellectual terms. challenges the old belief that femininity equals weakness, instead showing that feminine identity includes intelligence, independence, and the right to shape one’s own future. -
First women’s rights convention in the U.S. reframes femininity as compatible with civil rights, citizenship, and political voice. -
bold portrayal of a woman who refuses to be passive or obedient.Sarah Bernhardt played Salome, she transformed the role into a symbol of feminine power, desire, and rebellion onstage. challenges traditional ideas of femininity -
Femininity expands to include labor, resilience, and independence as women take on roles traditionally held by men. -
This iconic image captures a mother’s strength during the Great Depression. It portrays femininity as resilient, protective, and capable—even in crisis. -
features an all-female cast and centers on women’s friendships, independence, and emotional resilience in a male-dominated society. -
The subject, a Black female singer and civil rights icon, is portrayed with dignity — connecting femininity with talent, resilience, and cultural pride. Douglas’s work uses portraiture to promote Black cultural identity, giving women like Marian Anderson public visibility and respect at a time of racial and gender oppression. -
Arbus focuses on women who don’t fit traditional standards, such as performers or unconventional mothers. She challenges the idea that femininity has one “perfect” form. -
Her minimalist, functional office designs shaped mid-century corporate spaces. She redefined femininity by proving women could lead innovation in large-scale architectural design. -
This film portrays two women escaping restrictive roles and reclaiming control over their lives in a male-dominated society. reshapes femininity by showing that women can be bold, rebellious, and courageous, breaking away from expectations of passivity. -
Her presence reshaped 90s hip-hop and RB with themes of identity, womanhood, and intellect. She shows femininity as artistic brilliance and cultural influence, not limited to male-defined genres.