A common practice throughout history has been to overlook, marginalize or distort the role played by women and too many names have been forgotten, lost to the ages despite their importance. Since most societies were patriarchal this was not only easy, it was expected. Often women would take on the name or identity of men in order to achieve their goals. Even in recent times, a woman as talented as JK Rollins did not use her feminine name because she had been told 'boys, her largest readership, would never read books by a female author”.
Women have thought outside the box but have very much had to live inside the confinements of a very small box based on prejudices, assumptions and misinformation about their limitations based on gender.
Determination, ambition, cunning, perseverance...are all qualities admired in men but repudiated when shown in women. All the more reason for us to celebrate those whose names we do know, whose accomplishments we can celebrate and remember, if silently, those who shall remain anonymous. For it is on their shoulders we stand: the soldiers of giants both named and unnamed.
There were women warriors in many cultures. The most celebrated of ancient times were the Amazon women found in Greek legends who have since proven NOT TO BE LEGENDS OR MYTHS. Virtually every ancient culture had female deities usually portrayed as warriors and while many were lost, there were some so prominent that their names were retained and no layers of new legends, ideals or myths were completely able to obscure them. So, it was with Ahhotep, Hatshepsut, Epipole, Lady Fu Hao, Deborah, Jael, Vishpala, Queens Gwendolen and Cordelia, and many more. Vikings are believed to have female warriors as well. Evidence of these warrior women has been unearthed on every continent: bodies of women buried with weapons of war.
But perhaps the most celebrated female warrior known to westerners is Joan D'Arc, the Maid of Orleans. She is considered the heroine of France for her role during the Hundred Years War. Claiming to have visions that included specific instructions to fight for Charles VII and save France from English domination, she put on military attire and led troops into battle victoriously. Partly due to her triumph, Charles was crowned king. Her leadership resulted in the lifting of the siege at Orleans after 5 months and literally, the changing of the world.
When captured by the English she was charged, found guilty and burned at the stake in 1431 at the age of 19. The charge of HERESY was based on her repeated cross dressing, which was a violation of church teachings. She was posthumously canonized as a Roman Catholic saint and recognized as a martyr. She has remained popular throughout the ages and many plays, writers, artists, filmmakers and composers have created works about her. Parades are still given in her honor.
Legacy: More than 600 years after she perished, she is still an icon, a symbol of French nationalism. Today she is many things to many people. To Catholics her life is a testament to the belief that “with God all things are possible”. Her fairy tale warrior status makes her a proto- feminist. She defied the female stereotype that women cannot go to war. She has proven herself to be a true 'woman for the ages'.