Marie Curie: Childhood

In every field, there will be several shining exemplars, role models for aspiring beginners to look up to. The field of science is not lacking of such big names. Newton. Einstein. Darwin. Well, and Stephen Hawking, just to name a few. They were great men who were the distinguished players of their field.

And yet, it seems that women are not often included in this list. There has been many outstanding individuals, but their achievements and contributions were often overlooked or underestimated, and they remained but a faded imprint in the yellowed pages of a history book. Their names were often forgotten, or mentioned in passing, overshadowed by their male counterparts.

Even the great woman scientist Marie Curie was not totally free from gender discrimination during her time.Although  she is now revered as the discoverer of radium, she used to be viewed as a mere helper of her husband, Pierre Curie.

Joan of Arc

One of the Patron Saints of France

Also known as 'The Maid of Orleans,' Joan of Arc became a Saint posthumously-- 489 years after being burnt at the stake. As quick as she rose to fame at the tender age of 17, her downfall and ultimately death came just as quick-- died at the age of 19 years. Having lived in a male dominated society, to get anywhere, people had to be a man, and a rich one for that matter. Yet, Joan was neither of the prerequisites and ended up marking her name in history-- against all odds-- as a military leader. She certainly exemplifies the principle 'nothing is unachievable.'

So how did she changed the course of her country's history: leading armies and all?