In honor of 'International Left Handers Day' let's celebrate ten percent of the population through them.
As you no doubt discovered during your daily routine on Instagram or Facebook, it's International Left-Handers Day! You know what that means, right? It's time to celebrate some of the most incredible left-handed women in history.
Since 1976, it has been agreed to dedicate August 13 to recognize the ten percent (or possibly thirty, depending on who you ask) of the population that, as if from a parallel universe, are dominated by their left side. Ask any left-hander, and they'll be the first to tell you that being left-handed isn't easy. Everything from can openers to desks are designed for right-handed users, causing not only discomfort but also injury (imagine using a spiral notebook and pinching yourself) on a daily basis. There's even a whole world of memes and jokes with the #leftieprobs.
On the other hand, the others have had to get used to the constant explanations and comparisons of lefties who claim to be as special as a snowflake... and science actually backs them up most of the time. The truth is that the left hand has been associated with better divergent thinking, which translates into more creativity, and different investigations have shown that they even do better in most sports, and that they are even gifted. Also, as if that were not enough, it has been discovered that most cats are frequently left-handed. What more can be said?
Sure, they've also been persecuted, executed (used to be considered witchcraft), and even today in 2018, segregated (haven't you seen a lefty try to use scissors?). But that definitely hasn't stopped them, not one bit, and to prove it, we've rounded up the most amazing women in history on this list, and yes, all of them are left-handed.
Joan of Arc
To be fair, there is no evidence that Joan of Arc was left-handed. Being born at a time when left-handedness was considered a curse, some historians believe that she was labeled as such to discredit her. However, she is frequently depicted as carrying a sword in her left hand, and handwriting analysis indicates that it is likely that she was.
Josephine de Beauharnais
Surely you have heard of a little man (forgive the redundancy) called Napoleon Bonaparte. You may even know that he was left-handed himself, but did you know that his wife, Josephine de Beauharnais, was too? What a couple!
Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria of England was one of many royals who turned out to be left-handed, including her descendant, Prince William.
Helen Keller
From Shakira's famous phrase, Helen Keller will have been blind and deaf, but nothing more. As well as being brilliant, outspoken and philanthropic, she was quite the activist.
Marie Curie
Not only was atomic scientist Marie Curie left-handed, but she was the mother of a whole family of left-handed accomplished scientists. Curie, who discovered the principles of radioactivity and won two Nobel Prizes, was married to fellow left-hander Pierre Curie, who was instrumental in aiding Marie's atomic research and shared one of her Nobel Prizes. Her daughter Irene was also left-handed, and she also won her own Nobel Prize with her husband, who, yes, you guessed it, was also left-handed.
The truth is that left-handed scientists are not unusual. In addition to the Curie clan, Einstein, Newton, and Alan Turing, the founder of modern computing, were also left-handed.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
She is the second woman in history to become a justice of the United States Supreme Court. But besides that she is a defender of the rights of women and homosexuals. All with the firm blow of her left mallet.
Marilyn Monroe
Although there is no hard evidence, it is said that Monroe used to write poetry with his left hand. But why is the subject so controversial? Although according to the official report the glamorous actress would have committed suicide, it has always been rumored that she could have been murdered, since her phone was found in her right hand.
Oprah Winfrey
The queen of talk shows doesn't need much else to stand out from the rest, but she also has the distinction of being a member of the left-handed club. Since men are more likely to be left-handed than women, that makes Oprah doubly impressive.
Fortunately, she is in good company: other left-handed women in Hollywood include Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Roberts and Angelina Jolie.
Happy day!
