
Women are changing the world. They are breaking barriers
barriers
NASA/THE LIFE PICTURE COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES
a law, rule, or problem that makes it difficult or impossible to do something
(noun)
Sally Ride overcame many barriers to become the first American woman to travel to space.
. They are doing great things. March is Women’s History Month. To celebrate, meet five incredible females. Each was the first to do something big.
The Astronaut

The first African-American woman in space was Mae Jemison. “Being first gives you a responsibility,” Jemison told TIME. “You must choose how to use it.”
The Politician

Hillary Clinton ran for president. She was the first woman to win a major party’s nomination
nomination
DIRK ANSCHUTZ/GETTY IMAGES
formally choosing someone to be a candidate for an office, position, or honor
(noun)
Rafael won the 6th-grade nomination for student body president, and now he has to give a speech in front of the entire school.
for U.S. president.
The Actor

Rita Moreno was the first Hispanic woman to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. These awards honor people in the performing arts.
The Scientist

Sylvia Earle studies the oceans. Earle led the first all-female team of aquanauts
aquanaut
GIORDANO CIPRIANI/GETTY IMAGES
an explorer who spends a long time living in an underwater dwelling
(noun)
The team of aquanauts spent six months living on the ocean floor.
. They spent two weeks living underwater to learn more about the oceans.
The Athlete

Mo’ne Davis plays baseball. She was the first girl to pitch a shutout
shutout
MASAKATSU YAMAZAKI/ GETTY IMAGES
a game where one side doesn't score any points
(noun)
My basketball team lost the game in a 9-0 shutout.
and win a game in baseball’s Little League World Series. “When I first started, a lot of people didn’t think I was good,” Mo’ne told TIME.