“He giveth power to the faint; and to them
that have no might he increaseth strength.”-- Isaiah 40:29 (KJV)
This is the
third article in a series on women who refused to be kept down. The group
includes examples from the Bible and from secular history. Please see the first
two articles here
and here.
Deborah in the Bible
Judges chapters
4 and 5 introduce us to this prophet and judge. She is the only female prophet
mentioned in the sacred writing.
The
Israelites had been oppressed by the Canaanite king for a couple of decades.
Deborah orders and facilitates a victorious attack against the monarch’s
military commander. The result is peace for forty years.
Modern Overcomers
The
remaining cases are taken from the World War 2 era in the U.S. All sorts of ladies,
from celebrities to blue-collar workers, stepped up to join the war effort:
Hedy Lamarr (November 9, 1914-January
19, 2000)
This
Austrian-born film actress escaped a confining marriage in Austria to start a
new life in America. She became one of Hollywood’s top earners.
The lady had
brains as well as stunning good looks. Lamarr was an inventor. She had learned
military tricks and trade secrets from her controlling husband and his dinner
guests. The star used them to create her most amazing invention.
Lamarr was
upset by the frequent stories of German submarines attacking civilian refugee
ships during World War 2. With help, she invented a frequency-hopping torpedo
guidance system. It prevented jamming by the enemy.
The sultry icon
wasn’t taken seriously. The U.S. Navy didn’t adapt her creation until the
1960s. Yet, the basic principles are still used today. The technology is
similar to that used in Bluetooth and WiFi.
Marlene Dietrich (December 27,
1901-May 6, 1992)
This German-born
beauty was also much more than a pretty face in Hollywood. She had strict morals. The Nazis offered her
a top position in their film industry, but she turned it down. She was a true
American philanthropist and humanitarian.
Marlene
advocated for German and French exiles. Dietrich spearheaded efforts to provide
them with housing and financial support. The celebrity even donated some of her
own personal money.
This
courageous woman lifted the morale of the military. She put herself in harm’s
way to do so:
- Traveled to the front lines as a United Service Organizations (USO) entertainer
- Participated in musical propaganda broadcasts strategically designed to demoralize the Nazis
My Conclusion
This propaganda
poster was created in 1943. The objective was to motivate women to join the war
effort. The iconic image of Rosie the Riveter was a symbol of women’s rising
social and financial power.
The empowering
message still resonates decades later: Underdogs unite! Refuse to be kept down!
Related Posts
What significant contributions are
you making against the odds?
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