The story

The following profiles feature prominent women in the fields of politics, law, sports, science and business.

Betty Friedan Betty Friedan (1921-2006) is best known as a philosopher of modern-day feminism. In 1957, she began to send questionnaires to other women and noted that they were dissatisfied with their lives. Friedan organized this information into a bestselling book, The Feminine Mystique, published in 1963. The book detailed the frustration of women who were expected to rely on their husbands and children for their happiness. In 1966, Friedan became one of the founders of the National Organization for Women (NOW), which was dedicated to achieving equal opportunities for women. She also co-founded the National Women's Political Caucus, saying it was organized "to make policy, not coffee."

Sally Ride Sally Ride (1951 - ) was the first American woman to orbit the Earth, though at first she considered a career in professional tennis. She was selected for a NASA astronaut training program while working on her doctorate in astrophysics at Stanford University. Ride became the first American woman in space on June 18, 1983, as a member of the shuttle Challenger crew. Later, she said of that six-day mission, "The thing that I'll remember most about the flight is that it was fun. In fact, I'm sure it was the most fun I'll ever have in my life." In the years that followed, Ride became the only person to serve on commissions investigating both the Challenger and the Columbia shuttle tragedies. Today, Sally Ride works on programs that promote science and math, especially for girls, and she has authored children's books about space. Read full article »