Women who have changed the world

March 2023

This month we asked our students to write about a women who they think changed the world for the better.

The light that never goes out

Sarah Miller
MSMU Class of 2026

Florence Nightingale, portrayed in movies like The Lady With The Lamp, is widely known in the STEM field and would even be named the grandmother of nursing because of the vast amount of things she accomplished in her lifetime. From when she was born in 1820, until her passing in 1910, Nightingale encompassed her dominant nursing values through her wartime stories, which influence generations and the healthcare environment even today.

To introduce and put into perspective her legacy, every single new nurse has to say the Florence Nightingale pledge before getting inducted into the nursing practice; one notable line in the pledge is, "I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully." Nightingale upheld faithful and exceptional values within her nursing career, and although she wouldn't be as known without her profession, the pledge backs up her monumental character traits and personality. The pledge is a remarkable piece that will forever be intertwined in the nursing curriculum, impacting people worldwide by setting the scene for their upcoming years in nursing.

My family consists of all nurses, and this pledge encompasses so much history for many individuals, and often has had a generational effect. My grandmother, mother, and sister are, or were, nurses; without them, I feel as if I couldn't have inherited a better family. Although Florence came from a very wealthy family and was named after the city she was born in, the famously beautiful Florence, Italy, she had many struggles along the way. She experienced many mental health struggles that impacted her nursing towards the end of her life. When she previously would go help soldiers, she suffered from PTSD and depression. Later she even struggled with Bipolar Personality Disorder, which sadly, made her unable to help soldiers.

Florence made her debut during the Crimean War. She was an influential individual who would go around helping wounded soldiers at nighttime with her lamp. Because of her impact and light she had in the war, Florence had the first nursing school named after her in Britain. Her iconic lamp guided her through the night and helped her practice nursing. A plethora of soldiers would have died without her help. She kept her stations as clean and as sterile as they could be during the time, which she found helped keep soldiers from dying and getting infections. She then inspired mandates during nursing practices that are carried out even today, especially in ensuring that people receive the best ethical and holistic care they can in the safest way possible. If it was not for Florence, we would have had different standards than we have now.

Florence was originally a statistician, where her reputation in the mathematics and STEM fields blossomed. While she was employed as a statistician in Britain, Florence was helping the British in the Russia-British Crimean War. When she was in the war, she found that there would be many more deaths without the sterilization tactics that she used. She also found that unhealthy living conditions and conditions that didn't give the soldiers a serene setting prohibited overall wellness, leading to more deaths. She was investigating throughout the entirety of the war why people were dying and what preventative measures could be used to help them. However, Florence kept pushing and helping people at night, with her light always accompanying her. During this time, residential areas for soldiers were affecting them more than their battle wounds, which is when different approaches to care were followed. The leading cause of death was dysentery, a gastrointestinal disease caused by bacteria, or typhus/cholera, which Florence helped fix by sterilizing and maintaining a clean workspace.

Florence stated that she received a calling from God to help others and that her work in academia, although flourishing, did not satisfy her need to help others. She was selfless, like all nurses and doctors today. Florence helped shape the ethical standards used in nursing practice, which is one of the most pivotal parts of nursing. She wrote over 150 books, contributing 10-fold to the healthcare community. She was a faithful woman, exceptional in her fields. She even created the first pie chart, which has helped statisticians and educators in the realm of mathematics to portray data in a simple chart effectively.

I would place Florence as one of the most influential women in history, especially in today's disastrous times. If it were not for her, healthcare workers all over would be struggling, but she truly has a light that never goes out. Her legacy will forever live on, especially with her contributions to the Crimean war.

As I am writing this paper, I cannot help but think: if Florence were alive today, what would she do? 2020 was deemed the year of the nurse and midwife by the World Health Organization because of the heroic practices of nurses and healthcare providers at the beginning of Covid-19. I think she would be proud of this, but that she would be disappointed in all the PPE that was unavailable during the crisis, which ultimately left nurses unprotected and vulnerable. Without Florence's strong view on sanitation in the workplace, she would be half the woman she was back then. She testified in front of the British Cabinet to supply nurses and providers during the war with protective barriers for sick patients. I also think that Florence would be on the front lines helping in the Russia-Ukrainian war, even with the tensions and high-power weapons in use today. Her selfless person should never be forgotten; and if she were living amidst the many sad tensions in the world right now, Florence would be thinking of the good, and how to make this disastrous time of the provider better and more efficient so that ultimately, fewer lives are lost.

With her lamp lighting the way, Florence always advocated for the people who are not seen and not heard, which should be something that all people stand for: helping people in need so that they can help others too. This Women's History Month, ask yourself, what would Florence do?

Read other articles by Sarah Miller

No man’s shadow

Joey Carlson
MSMU Class of 2025

St. Clare of Assisi is known to many simply as St. Francis’ lesser-known companion, or perhaps to a few who have encountered a Poor Clare. In many ways, however, St. Clare had more influence than St. Francis. While the Franciscan order spent centuries fighting amongst themselves about what their rule of life should be, and whether or not they should actually give up all of their possessions as St. Francis had insisted, the Poor Clares never strayed from St. Francis’ original rule of total poverty. The unity in the mission of these little nuns was accomplished singlehandedly by St. Clare, their first member, abbess for forty years and the inspiration for the founding of the order.

St. Clare of Assisi was the spiritual daughter of St. Francis, literally called alter Franciscus (other Francis) for her undying commitment to poverty and prayer for the poor. At age 17, she heard Francis preach and was so moved that she begged him to let her live the same lifestyle through which Francis so perfectly showed the love of Christ. Clare was the daughter of a wealthy family who had been distinguished since the days of the Roman empire, and she was apparently very beautiful and was already going to be wed. Clare snuck out of the family castle by night, where she was met by friars carrying torches, exchanging her jeweled belt for a common rope. The patriarchs of her family pursued her with soldiers and arms, even breaking into the chapel where Clare was praying. In a dramatic scene, Clare pulled her new veil away to reveal her long hair cut short, a sign of her fidelity to her husband, Jesus Christ. Her father and uncle left in a huff, and nineteen days later, her sister Agnes came to join her in the convent (her story is well worth telling another time). Francis himself had been persecuted by Church higher-ups and noblemen who saw his commitment to total poverty as a challenge to their privileged lifestyle, so when Clare asked to join his order, he knew that she, as a woman, would receive even more resistance. For this reason, he decided that she would maintain a monastic life of prayer, penance, and poverty, separate from the world, unlike the men, who would spend less time in prayer and more time in service. Clare’s order eventually became known as the Poor Clares.

Though it may seem that Clare was relegated to an inferior position, as if her femininity was a scandal to be locked away, in Catholic theology, contemplation of the Divine is the highest calling human beings can answer. The Poor Clares would become, in many ways, the very lifeblood of the Franciscan movement, and by the close of the century, hundreds of monasteries had been set up across Europe, providing for the poor what the mendicant Franciscans could not – unceasing supplication and prayer before the Throne of God. In this new religious environment, women played a privileged role, with many having a distinct authority over the men surrounding them. This was not unseen in Christianity’s history (Mary, after all, was the spiritual mother of the apostles and held unique authority even over those bishops of the Church). The Poor Clares carried a distinctly female spirituality, and this age in the Church’s life saw lowly and holy women dictating even to the Pope (St. Catherine of Sienna, not a Poor Clare, but a contemporary, ordered the pope to directly contradict the king of France, and he did). St. Clare herself was visited by popes often, and she, a lowly woman not unlike the Mother of God, chastised, encouraged, and received reverence from the Vicar of Christ. St. Clare, visited by popes and bishops, washed the feet of her own sisters, and for all her austerities, never ceased valuing charity as the highest good.

Francis was correct that St. Clare would endure much in order to live her unique charism of total poverty. Francis’ original rule of life for Franciscans did not allow any ownership of private property, and Clare insisted that her order follow suit. Religious rules of life must be endorsed by the pope. Various popes attempted to write rules for St. Clare’s order while she was alive, but none of them forbade private property as Clare desired. For forty years, she fought for her rule of life, and finally, the pope endorsed the rule that she herself had written for her sisters two days before she died in 1253. She is the first woman to write a rule of life for a Catholic religious order.

To give you an idea of how holy St. Clare was, it took nine years after the death of St. John Paul II for him to be declared a saint by the Church, and 19 years for Mother Teresa; Clare was canonized two years after her death. The pope personally sped up the process because he was so impressed by this little Italian woman!

To close, "a well-known story concerns her prayer and trust. Clare had the Blessed Sacrament placed on the walls of the convent when it faced attack by invading Saracens. ‘Does it please you, O God, to deliver into the hands of these beasts the defenseless children I have nourished with your love? I beseech you, dear Lord, protect these whom I am now unable to protect.’ To her sisters, she said, ‘Don’t be afraid. Trust in Jesus.’ The Saracens fled" (fransiscanmedia.org).

There is a new book out on her life: The Light of Assisi: the Story of Saint Clare. The catchphrase of the book is "the story of a woman who stood in no man’s shadow." Her name, of course, means ‘clear’ or ‘bright’, thus the irony in the title. If there is anyone who imagines that women played some subsidiary role in the life of the Church during the Dark Ages, I would encourage them to encounter this true light of faith, councilor to popes, servant of the servants of God, and spiritual mother of all who, in their love for God, serve the poor with joy and perseverance.

Read other articles by Joseph Carlson

The Music Industry

Claire Doll
MSMU Class of 2024

"A man writing about his feelings from a vulnerable place is brave; a woman writing about her feelings from a vulnerable place is oversharing or whining."

Taylor Swift is arguably the most successful woman in the music industry—in fact, she has been called "the music industry"—but unfortunately, to many, all she is known for is writing "too many heartbreak songs" about her exes. Or dating songs. Or songs about her emotions.

But in reality, to many women all around the world, Taylor Swift is a feminist icon, a childhood inspiration. She writes her own music. She has ten original studio albums, two re-rerecorded studio albums, and has won 11 Grammys (with around 42 total nominations). In 2018, she sold out her stadium tour (with 53 shows), and in 2023, she is touring again, selling out stadiums in record time. You can find her at the top of Billboard 100 Chart, or on the radio, or crashing Spotify whenever she releases a new album.

She’s amazing, yet she has received so much backlash for simply being.

But, in honor of Women’s History Month, I will portray my favorite artist in a new and radiant light. Taylor is so brilliant, yet people choose to overlook her accomplishments and talents and define her based on her dating life. Or on how "mainstream" she is. Or on how she changes her image too much, or how she’s been "cancelled," or how she appears on a certain day.

Taylor Swift is currently in the process of re-recording her first six studio albums because her former record label would not let her buy the masters to her own songs. "The reason I’m rerecording my music next year is because I do want my music live on. I do want it to be in movies, I do want it to be in commercials. But I only want that if I own it." Taylor is forging a new and revolutionary path in the music industry. She is reclaiming her songs but transforming her image, becoming more passionate about her feminist identity and securing the rights to her own records.

This means that the songs I related to when I was growing up—the songs I would sing into my hairbrush, or cry to in my car, or blast on the radio—are being re-released as Taylor’s Version. She now has and will be gaining full ownership of her own music, which is so exciting. I, and many other girls, can relive my childhood and teenage years all over again.

Taylor Swift’s songs capture so much more than feelings of heartbreak and despair, although these are relevant and valid themes featured in her discography. Taylor explores the excitement and hardship of growing up. She writes about friendship, about isolation, about family and loss, about super personal and sadly relatable topics. This is what forges the connection between she and her fans, and this is what makes her songwriting so beautiful. In fact, she shares topics that are deeply personal.

"She’s too skinny. It bothers me," someone remarked about Taylor Swift’s body. In her documentary, "Miss Americana," Taylor opens up about her eating disorder, a raw and individual experience that has characterized part of her career. "It’s no good for me to see pictures of myself every day." She remarks that when she would see a picture of herself where she felt her stomach was too big, it will trigger her to "starve a little bit—just stop eating."

In her most recent album released in October 2022, Midnights, Taylor Swift has addressed this topic in songs such as "You’re On Your Own, Kid": "I hosted parties / and starved my body / like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss." By revealing these struggles and acknowledging this deep and personal past, Taylor relates strongly with her fan base. It’s important that young girls listen and look up to figures that speak to these problems. "I work on accepting my body every day," says Taylor.

The same with heartbreak. Songs such as "Forever and Always" and "All Too Well" and "Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve" are all about heartbreak, each one from a uniquely different perspective and situation. The first is an angsty, rage-filled, catchy song about a breakup, written when Taylor was 18. The second is heartbreaking, like poetry, written when she was 22. The third is a layered song, written when she was 32, reflecting on the regrets and trauma of a past relationship. And she has more, such as songs within the theme of heartbreak, about loss, being cheated on and falling out of love. This is especially important for young girls to hear, as heartbreak and love are experiences that most teenagers endure. Instead of shaming girls for having these emotions, or making fun of them for it, Taylor gives them a space to relate, inspiring female empowerment.

"She made teenage girls—heretofore hardly taken seriously—a market force to be reckoned with," says Billboard. "She showed that young women are not meant to simply be placated with boy bands, but catered to with perspectives that mirror their own."

As a young adult myself, having Taylor Swift as my role model and absolute favorite artist has been so important. I find myself relating to so many emotions that I once was ashamed of feeling. I, myself, journaled and wrote poems and stories about how I felt; others would deem it as "whiny" and "too much." Females, for some reason, have always been criticized for being overemotional. For their "madness." For their success.

But Taylor Swift is changing this view. By rereleasing her albums, connecting with her loyal fanbase, and writing deeply personal and relatable songs, Taylor will easily go down in history as one of the most successful women in the music industry. Or rather the music industry, as she is called. As one of her song lyrics goes: "I could build a castle / Out of all the bricks they threw at me." Her wildly independent and open character is an inspiration to all women, especially young girls, who dream of being where Taylor is today.

Read other articles by Claire Doll

The unseen woman

McKenna Snow
MSMU Class of 2023

In honor of Women’s History Month, there are many famous women one can research and learn all about; how they broke barriers, paved the way for other women, set the stage… And truly, they are amazing and quite inspirational. But something about this month’s prompt really struck me, and left me wondering: do only women who are famous truly break barriers? Is the only way that one can truly break a barrier by being recognized publicly for it, or by doing one particularly amazing thing?

While there are many types of women who prove that the answer is certainly no, there is one specific woman whom I would like to highlight. She is an invisible woman in many ways, but she is changing the world, without a doubt. In fact, with even just one response or one phrase, she has the capacity to impact the way a person lives for the rest of his or her life. And countless times, she has made the choice to sacrifice for the sake of someone else she loves, shattering barriers of humanity’s brokenness: she is the mom, and she is an essential figure in Women’s History month.

She is unseen, unrecorded, and largely unnoticed by the history books. And yet, the mother daily breaks barriers over and over again—every time she chooses to love. It is no secret that being a mother can be, at times, a remarkably frustrating job. But the role of the mother is much deeper than a job, and cannot be simply reduced to a 9-5. It is a beautiful life with a different kind of obstacle than women in various fields find themselves overcoming (which are remarkable in their own right), because of the unique challenges and relationships involved.

When women break through in the fields of science, theology, or medicine, some frustrations inevitably remain of course, but the barriers broken rarely pose such a grand obstacle as they did the first time the woman was confronted by them. In contrast, the mother is faced with rather repetitive barriers daily, such as disunity, selfishness, and family disagreements. But, with her love, she repeatedly breaks through those barriers.

While many books could be written on the joys and rewards of motherhood, this article wants to consider the mother’s groundbreaking actions in family life. The following illustration gives an example of her confrontation of ongoing and "insurmountable odds." The mother gets past one barrier—the toddler finally learns to eat spaghetti somewhat properly—and, several short years later, she is face to face with the preteen who feels like his mother cannot understand him. She breaks through this barrier by deep persistence, humor, patience, and empathy, and finally, they learn to see more eye-to-eye. Shortly after, she is caring for the tenth grader who needs help with math homework that the mother hasn’t done in years. She stays up late relearning these equations so that she can help her son more fully. Two years later, an unfamiliar wall arises, when the young adult son stops calling when he goes off to college. His new college friends "really" understand him and know what’s in his best interest, so his mother couldn’t be that worthwhile to keep up with while he’s away, right?

Though this one in a way stings the most, she doesn’t allow even this barrier to stop her from loving her child, and bears little grudge. When he comes home for the winter break, she receives him as if he had never left.

When he finally realizes that she has been there all along, waiting for him and loving him all the same, that barrier is broken again. In the most beautiful, whole and reconciled way yet, the adult son learns to love his mother in return, calling home often, and striving to visit as much as he can, letting it be his turn to care for her.

In motherhood, she overcomes one barrier and is almost immediately faced with a new one. The repetition makes her at once both a professional and ever-new at this way of life, admitting her fears and imperfections and yet laughing in the face of difficulties that thought they might actually win against her. Her! The mother who overcomes daily barriers for the sake of her family with a resilience that belongs in every history book on the shelf, next to every president and strong leader, even though her monumental actions are often done in silence.

Significantly enough, none of these difficulties mean that the role of the mother is the most miserable and difficult there is—certainly not. On the contrary, the mother’s role in loving her family is one of the most beautiful, fruitful and life-giving roles in the world.

The mother is changing the world through how she raises and loves her children. They watch her so closely, and hopefully, they carry her lessons and virtues long after they leave home. And, as if in a history book, they can look back and trace the outline of their mother’s life, and see where she broke a hundred barriers a day in choosing to love them even when it was hardest. She gave them second chance after second chance and didn’t shy from difficult conversations, since she knew they could all grow from them. The mother wills the good of her family and those around her often in the most quiet and humble ways—and in these small ways, she is undoubtedly changing the world.

We can read hundreds of history books and get to know many famous people. And certainly, it is a worthwhile endeavor. Yet, history is shaped behind the scenes by the people who raised these famous men and women—their mothers and fathers. In such a unique and special way, every mother has impacted the world, and has impacted history more than she will ever know. As Mother Theresa said, "If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." And the mother who loves her family does just that, every day. In fact, you, the mama holding this paper and reading it—you are changing the world by your love; I see you, and I thank you for every barrier you’ve broken. Your life truly belongs in the history books.

Read other articles by McKenna Snow

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