The Problem With Controversial Women

Here’s The Problem With “Controversial” Women

Controversial women seem to be a hot-button issue these days, throughout history there have been a slew of powerful women who’ve been deemed “controversial” for one reason or another. But once you explore the history of some of these seemingly “controversial” gals you’ll probably realize the only problem with “Controversial Women” is that they’re labeled controversial in the first place.

Think about, when was the last time you heard a man being labeled “controversial” for anything as benign as writing a novel, petitioning for equal rights, playing an on-screen action hero, simply enjoying sex, or taking a bite out of an apple.

So today, as a little “thank you” to the controversial women of our past, we want to dedicate a little page-time to some of the most talked about women in history! This is by no means a comprehensive list of all the kicka** ladies who’ve come before us but merely a few of our very favorites.

Eve

She’s the one that started it all; the apple, the snake, the garden. While Eve is widely thought of as the gateway by which evil entered the world, thus creating original sin. Many people seem to forget that she’s also considered to be the most beautiful women the world has known, being that she was created out of divine image and all. Also, let us not forget that she was the first person to receive a divine prophecy, oh ya and she’s basically the mother of all humankind according to the bible … so there’s that.

Joan of Arc

Long looked upon as one of history’s greatest saints, Joan of Arc, convinced the crown prince, Charles of Valois, to allow her to lead a French army to victory over the English and their French allies. Ultimately Joan was captured by Anglo-Burgundian forces, tried for witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1431, at the age of 19 she became one of the worlds most well known martyrs.

Bettie Page

The notorious Bettie Page is known as the “Queen of Pinups” and one of the first models to have truly influenced artists for generations. Bettie can be considered a pioneer of female sexual expression and freedom. One of her most influential quotes echos her simple yet genius approach to female sexuality, in her words ” I think you can do your own thing as long as you’re not hurting anybody else — that’s been my philosophy ever since I was a little girl.”

Harriet Beecher Stowe

“Harriet Beecher Stowe was the author of the controversial novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This book was an explosive best seller during the 19th century, only outsold by the bible, and some say it helped pave the way to the American Civil War.”. Basically this women is a national treasure, and one hell of a novelist ta-boot.

Sarah Woodruff

Ok yes, she’s not a real person, unless you count Mrs. Streep’s rousing rendition of her in the film version of John Fowles’ novel “The French Lieutenant’s Woman“, however Sarah Woodruff makes a great addition to this list of fiery controversy causing ladies. Plus we needed one good literary heroine to throw into the mix. Her character in the book represents some of the most fundamental gender inequalities, both sexually and morally, during the Victorian area, many of which still persist today.

Lady Godiva

Meet Lady Godiva. During the 11th-century she famously rode naked through the streets to protest her husbands taxation of his tenants. According to the legend she took pity on her people and and after she mandated that everyone stay in their homes she took to the streets on horseback clothed in only her hair to protest his decree. (BTW: Did you know that the phrase Peeping Tom originates from the story of Lady Godiva? “It’s said that just one person in the town, a tailor ever afterwards known as Peeping Tom, disobeyed her proclamation in one of the most famous instances of voyeurism”)

Pam Grier

In addition to knowing how to rock the heck out of an afro, Pam was the first “African American” female action star. Her films portrayed black women in a position of power often using sex and guns to get her point across. Grier, who is in fact Hispanic, Chinese and Filipino, is credited with impacting cinema irreversible with her liberated and empowered ethnic female roles.
 
 
Basically, we’d like you gals to remember that if you’re ever accused of being a “controversial” women, look at the ladies above and realize that you’re in damn fine company.