Notable Firsts
In 2016 she became the first female CEO of Progressive.
Who is Tricia Griffith?
Oprah was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in this movie, her very first in a major motion picture.
What is The Color Purple?
In 1872 Josephine Cochran's invented the first type of this machine to use water pressure instead of scrubbers.
What’s is a dishwasher?
Lucille Ball was one of the first woman to appear pregnant on television on this show, and later became the very first woman to own and operate her own film studio.
What is I Love Lucy?
*No one was allowed to say the word ‘pregnant’ on air at that time because it was seen as a dirty word
She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the skies to other women.
Who is Amelia Earhart?
In 1903 Mary Anderson invented this device to keep your vision clear when driving.
What are windshield wipers?
This abolitionist and leader of the Underground Railroad was also a prominent voice in the Women's Suffrage movement.
Who is Harriet Tubman?
With 17 nominations she is the most nominated actress for an Academy Award.
Who is Meryl Streep?
*She has been nominated 17 times!
In 1987 this "Queen of Soul' was the first female inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame.
Who is Aretha Franklin?
*Less than 10% of inductees to this day are women
Oprah Winfrey was the first African American woman to own her own production company which she named this.
What is Harpo Productions?
In 1914 when people were still using ice boxes, Florence Parpart patented this household staple, which she successfully marketed and improved upon for years
What is a refrigerator?
In 1938, this Act, with its acronym FLSA, established minimum wage without regard to gender.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?
In 1939 she became the first African American to win an Academy Award for her supporting role in 'Gone With the Wind'.
Who is Hattie McDaniel?
*It wasn't until 1990 that the next African American woman won an oscar - Whoopi Goldberg for Ghost
She was the first woman to appear on American currency to commemorate her achievements in the fight for women's rights.
Who is Susan B Anthony?
After winning 47 of these awards, Oprah decided to refrain from submitting the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' from further consideration in order to allow other talk shows to be nominated and win.
What are Emmys?
*The Oprah Winfrey Show remains the longest running daytime talk show.
In 1950, Marion Donovan First invented this must have cloth alternative for pre-potty training parents.
What is a disposable diaper?
*While it’s not surprising that her inventions were completely ignored as “unnecessary and impractical” by the male manufacturers she pitched them to, Donovan took matters into her own hands and sold them straight to Saks Fifth Avenue.
In this year, a ban against women in military combat was removed by the Secretary of Defense.
2013
Shonda Rhimes became the first woman to have three shows make it to the coveted 100 episode milestone; ‘Private Pratice’, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and this drama series featuring Kerry Washington.
What is Scandal?
In 2020, she became the 1st female coach to make it to a SuperBowl.
Who is Katie Sowers?
Already well known for her generosity, in 2004 Oprah began the new season of her talk show by giving each member of the audience a brand new this.
What is a car?
Apartment fires were much more deadly before Anna Connelly invented an external metal staircase, also called this.
What is a fire escape?
In 2010 Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win 'Best Director' at the Academy Awards for this film, and is the only female to have won since.
What is the Hurt Locker?
*Since the Oscars began in 1929, only 7 women have ever been nominated in this category