The GAIM 2022 Women
Every year, GAIM features four great women from history. The comics in our challenge this year are based on the lives of these four women. In the GAIM 2022 Challenge, we are featuring Zhenyi Wang, Marjorie Lee Browne, Hatshepsut, and Dorothy Levitt.
Born: 1768
Died: 1797
Birthplace: Nanjing, China
Ni-hao -- Hello! I was born into a family of intellectuals in the Qing Empire, the last imperial dynasty in China. How could I not follow in the path of my ancestors? My father taught me mathematics, medicine, and geography. My grandfather gifted me with his love for astronomy, and my grandmother shared the beauty of poetry.
Learning was my life’s greatest passion--the world is full of wonder! I not only read everything I could find, I also wrote my own books explaining complex mathematical ideas, as well as my original poetry and astronomy research.
In my greatest moment, I used a lamp to model the pattern and timing of lunar eclipses. At the time, the world believed that such events were caused by the gods. May there be light where there once was only darkness!
Born: 1507 BCE
Died: 1458 BCE
Birthplace: Egypt
Em Hotep, welcome in peace! I dreamed of a golden age for Egypt. When my father and husband died before their time, I became Pharaoh to restore greatness to my kingdom. Instead of focusing on war, I reestablished Egypt’s trade routes, heralding an age of prosperity, justice, and order. My most famous expedition to the famous Land of Punt brought such foreign luxuries as exotic animals, gold, and myrrh trees to my kingdom. Using frankincense imported from neighboring lands, I invented the world’s first eyeliner.
I built roads and sanctuaries throughout my kingdom. My temple, Deir el-Bahri sits along the banks of the Nile River. Its elegant columns built into the side of imposing cliffs make it one of the architectural wonders of the world.
Born: 1914
Died: 1979
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Hi y’all! Math was my greatest love, and teaching was my life’s work. I grew up in Memphis, where my father was a postal clerk and my stepmom was a teacher. They loved teaching me math, and they were so proud of me when I decided to pursue math and become one of the first African-American women to get a PhD in Mathematics.
I became a famous math educator, teaching college students at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). In addition, I spent my summers sharing the beauty of math with local teachers in North Carolina, so that they could share the passion with their students.
To me, a mathematician is someone who “appreciates the beauty, power, and eloquence of mathematics as one of the greatest art forms.” Anyone can be a mathematician, and through education, we can empower each other. Girl power!
Born: 1882
Died: 1922
Birthplace: Hackney, England
Hello, loves! I once said I would be the fastest woman in the world, and I’m a woman of my word. I raced cars, boats, and horses, and even learned to pilot planes. In my day, I held the women’s speed record on both land and water. If plane racing were an option, I bet I could outfly anyone too!
Car racing was a “man’s sport,” but I made it my sport. In 1903, I was the first English woman to ever compete in a motor race. Three years later, I came back for a spectacular win. In fact, I drove so fast, I broke the women’s land speed record by driving 91 miles per hour at a time when the average car could only go 28 miles per hour.
Every woman should be able to feel the thrill of the wind through her hair! I wrote a book to encourage lady drivers to drive and fix their own cars, all while staying fabulous. Drive on, ladies!
