March is Women’s history month, and Monday, March 8, marks International Women’s Day.

In honor of those events, here’s a look at women who have been “first” in their fields, from science to sports to politics to entertainment.

“Breaking the glass ceiling” -- referring to an invisible barrier that seemingly prevented women from advancing past a cerrtain level in their careers -- is a phrase first popularized in a 1986 Wall Street Journal article, but the concept goes back to the 1970s, according to reports.

The women highlighted here broke the glass ceilings holding them back, and paved the way for women after them.

Marie Curie became not only the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, in 1903, but became the first person to win a Nobel Price twice, with a second award in 1911.

Russian Valentina Tereshkova, at the age of 26, became the first woman in space in 1963. During her flight, she orbited Earth 48 times over three days. Tereshkova holds two other “firsts” -- she is still the youngest woman to go to space and the only woman to go on a solo mission.

U.S. director Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Academy Award’s Best Director category in 2010. She remains the only woman director to win. This year, the 93rd Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, April 25.

https://www.facebook.com/36235438073/posts/10158539984943074/

More

Happy International Women's Day

www.nairaland.com/attachments/11000678_notablestrongwoman1_jpegfcb825ad574991670c3a5c5080380080