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Today we join the rest of the United States in commemorating Women’s Equality Day—a day to recognize the important strides that have been made in pursuit of equal participation, protection, and opportunity for all women. Let’s take a moment and celebrate the achievements of five inspiring role models from history who are featured in our new exhibit, BarbieTM You Can Be AnythingTM: The Experience. By breaking down barriers and blazing new trails, these extraordinary women helped pave the way for women today.
Laurie Hernandez
In 2016, Laurie took her place as the youngest member of the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team. She earned a silver medal in balance beam and an overall gold medal with Team USA!
Katherine Johnson
In the 1960s, Katherine calculated the path of the first flight into space with an American crew. Her math was so precise that NASA later had her double-check the accuracy of their computer’s flight path calculations!
Ella Fitzgerald®
Singer Ella Fitzgerald was the “Queen of Jazz.” She began her career as a jazz singer in the 1930s and thrilled audiences for over 60 years! Known for her singular voice and for perfecting the art of scat—when a singer mimics the sound of instruments—she earned 13 GRAMMYs during her musical career!
Amelia Earhart
Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart broke and set many piloting records in the 1920s and ’30s. She was the first woman to pilot a plane alone across the Atlantic Ocean and she was the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California!
Florence Nightingale
In the 1850s, Florence tended to wounded soldiers who fought in the Crimean War. She saw that many men died because hospitals were dirty and nurses had no training. After the war, Florence reformed army hospitals and started the Nightingale Training School for Nurses!
You can dream big dreams!
Women like Laurie Hernandez, Katherine Johnson, Ella Fitzgerald, Amelia Earhart, and Florence Nightingale helped to break down barriers. Today, dream big because you too Can Be Anything! You can learn more about these and other Role Models by exploring Barbie You Can Be Anything: The Experience. It will be at The Children’s Museum through 2021 and is included with museum admission.
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Supported by Franklin Pest Solutions and KinderCare Learning Centers
