It's hard to imagine a time when women couldn’t be doctors, diplomats, pilots, and a number of other professionals. But these achievements are relatively recent and were hard-won by women, who faced a great deal of opposition from a patriarchal society designed to work against them. Despite facing adversity, there are plenty of trailblazers who made history by becoming the first women in their professions.
Click through the gallery to meet the other women who broke down barriers.