Last week we spent an afternoon making a list of people that inspire us.
The only caveat was that we couldn’t add names just for being famous. They had to be people who had made something we’d connected with personally.
Once we were done, we made this website.
So far, the list contains 54 people. People like Andy Warhol, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Bill Bernbach. People who changed the way we think and how we live our lives.
Then, after we’d made the list, we tried to write a succinct paragraph for each that captured their contribution to the world.
It was a great little challenge. We enjoyed every moment.
However, we were shocked to find that of the 54 people, there was only one woman.
Her name is Paula Scher and she is one of the greats of modern-day design practice.
But only one? Gosh! Admitting it feels like airing dirty laundry.
Of course, we made the list without thinking what it might say about us politically, so try your hardest to reserve judgement.
In the place of judgement, we want you to help us fill our lives with inspiration from a feminine point of view.
Who are the women we should look to for inspiration?
Or at the very least, who inspires you, male or female?
Update: We’ve added more people to the list. Read about it here.
pretty down with Gillian Gilbert.
It’s possible that I was the person who pointed out the lack of females in your list. I felt a bit bad about doing it, because your list is actually pretty good, but it was something that had to be said. I wasn’t necessarily judging you… it was more despair for society as a whole that we’re still at the point where we either simply forget women exist, or repeatedly think of inspiring men before we think of all the damn awesome things that women have done.
I’ll let you know when my list goes live.
It’s tough.. I’d hate for “token” women to be included in lists like this, and maybe that’s a reflection of Western society so far. Perhaps our generation will change it.
Women who inspire me?
Rosie Boycott – writer, journalist, recovered alcoholic and drug addict and current head of London Food – increasing Londoners’ access to healthy, locally produced and affordable food.
Natalie Maines – singer of the Dixie Chicks, tackling the conservative world of country music with a killer voice and deadlier honesty.
Others include Tori Amos, Lee Lin Chin, Joice Loch.
Martha Graham.