Great Women Leaders

Christine Linge MacDonald, a past director of the Toronto & District
Parent Co-operative Preschool Corporation and a freelance writer, is an
elementary-school teacher in Whitby.

The Women’s Hall of Fame Series looks at fascinating female leaders,
from ancient to modern times. Whether politicians, suffragettes, rights
activists, or environmentalists, all these women have shown their
determination to make the world a better place. Some are well-known,
such as Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and civil rights activist Rosa
Parks; others are less well-known, but deserve the recognition for
putting their personal security on the line in pursuit of better lives
for all. Suffragette Elizabeth Cady Stanton impressed everyone with her
brilliance, athleticism, and spirit, but her father still said he wished
she were a boy. Wangari Maathai earned the Woman of the World Award for
her idea of paying people to grow trees, even though her country’s
president said it was “unimaginable for a woman to challenge or oppose
men.” Aung San Suu Kyi fearlessly fought Burma’s military
dictatorship while other members of the National League for Democracy
were arrested and tortured. These stories, like the rest in this volume,
clearly show that anything is possible for someone with determination
and strong ideals. Extensive bibliographies with websites for each
subject, and Ball’s straightforward style, make this volume both
useful and accessible. Recommended.