10 Female Figures Who Sacrificed Their Lives for Others

Welcome to MsMojo, today were looking at some of historys bravest women, who gave up their own lives to save others.

Marielle Franco (1979-2018)

Originally a sociologist, Franco would eventually become a city councilor in Rio de Janeiro, representing the Socialism and Liberty Party. She was a strong opponent of police brutality, a feminist, and an active supporter of human rights. Franco was a councilor for only one year, then she was tragically assassinated in her car. The culprits were two former military policemen, who were linked to a vigilante militia. The pair were sentenced to 59 and 78 years in prison, but no prison term can correct the injustice of Francos murder. Shell always be remembered warmly as a freedom fighter and a defender of the weak.

Berta Cáceres (1971-2016)

Described as an environmental crusader, Cáceres was a Honduran activist, who fought to protect indigenous lands. She protested things like illegal logging and U.S. military bases, alongside supporting the rights of the oppressed. In 2016, armed soldiers broke into her home and killed her in cold blood. Three of the eight responsible were trained by Americans, and it turned out shed been on a hitlist for months. Its unfortunately not an outlier for Honduras, which is the most dangerous country in the world for activists. One of her final battles was against a proposed hydroelectric dam, a fight that claimed too many lives in the name of cheap electricity.

Leila Alaoui (1982-2016)

Alaoui spent her life working on photography, with some of her most famous work being portraits of Moroccan people. Born in Paris, she was half Moroccan and raised in Marrakesh. As a child, she heard terrible stories about the horrific realities of migration. This was reflected in her artwork, which primarily focused on the issues of migration and culture. In 2016, when she was only 33 years old, a terrorist attack in Ouagadougou claimed her life. Alaoui was there for a feminist project, after being hired by the UN and Amnesty International. More than 30 people lost their lives in the attack, which targeted a restaurant and a hotel. She was rushed to hospital, but couldnt be saved.

Ameyo Adadevoh (1956-2014)

Between 2013 and 2016, Western Africa experienced a horrific outbreak of the Ebola virus. On the frontlines, Ameyo Adadevoh fought to kick the virus out of Nigeria, where she lived. Her most courageous decision was to quarantine Nigerias patient zero in 2014, even when he protested, refusing to believe he had Ebola. When the Liberian ambassador got involved on the patients behalf, she still held her ground, keeping him under medical attention. Adadevohs decision prevented a major ebola crisis in Nigeria, which would be declared Ebola-free only a few months later. Unfortunately, that came after Adadevoh contracted the virus herself, which ultimately took her life.

Edith Cavell (1865-1915)

World War 1 went down in history as one of the bloodiest conflicts of all time. Amidst the horrors of war, some brightness managed to penetrate through the darkness. Edith Cavell was a British nurse who took it upon herself to treat injured soldiers of all nationalities. Her final heroic decision was to free 200 Allied soldiers from Belgium, which the German Empire saw as a criminal offense. They accused her of violating medical neutrality, when treating both sides indiscriminately is the epitome of the principle. The Germans had her shot to death by a firing squad, which led to widespread global outrage.

Marie Sklodowska-Curie (1867-1934)

Few will contest the claim that Marie Curie is one of the greatest scientists in human history. She was widely celebrated for her contributions to physics and chemistry, specifically in the area of radioactivity. This research would tragically cause her death in 1934, after excessive exposure to radioactive materials. Without her, we wouldnt be aware of radiations dangers, the only silver lining to her early death. She won two Nobel Prizes in separate scientific fields, an achievement no one has managed since. Thats barely scratching the surface of her award. She received tons in her life, and countless projects have been named after her posthumously.

Emily Davison (1872-1913)

The fight for womens suffrage in the UK was a long hard one and was finally won in 1928 when women finally got the same voting rights as men. This battle became increasingly heated in the early 20th century, with strong women like Emily Davison fighting on the frontlines. This was a fight that got Davison arrested 9 times and she participated in numerous hunger strikes and constant protests. Her final act of protest was at the 1913 Epsom Derby, when she threw herself in front of King George Vs horse. Its still unclear what she intended, but the message she sent was less ambiguous, which was that women deserve equal rights. She will always be remembered as one of the bravest members of the fight.

Sophie Scholl (1921-1943)

At only twenty-one years old, this woman lost her life in an effort to stand up against the evils taking place around her. Living in Munich, Germany, Scholl was involved with a non-violent resistance group called the White Rose, which opposed the Nazi regime. She was captured by the Gestapo for distributing leaflets, and was sentenced to execution after being declared guilty of treason. Hannah Szenes also met a similar fate but became idolized for bravely refusing to reveal her missions secrets to Hungarian authorities in 1944. These women gave their lives to resist one of the most wicked authorities in history, and as such they are remembered for their unshakeable morality and courage.

Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992)

During Johnsons lifetime, America still abhorrently believed being gay was a mental illness. Johnson became one of the most prominent figures fighting against this belief. She was even present at the 1969 Stonewall uprising. She was a gay person and a drag queen in an era when both were widely frowned upon. After a life spent almost entirely helping the downtrodden, they found Johnsons body thrown in the Hudson River. Police thought she took her own life, but there was little evidence supporting the sentiment. It was an era when violence, including police violence, against the LGBTQIA+ community was at a high, something Johnson was vocally opposed to. Many suspect her death was likely a murder.

Joan of Arc (c. 1412-1431)

The Hundred Years War was a series of medieval conflicts between the French and English kingdoms. It wasnt just one war, but three, split across 116 years of history. French hero Joan of Arc lived during the Lancastrian War, the final phase which ended with a French victory. She led soldiers into battle while only a teenager. According to her, she was being guided by god. After a handful of defeats, she ended up in English hands. Her enemies werent merciful, they saw her as a threat to English dominance, so they put her on trial for heresy. Joan would tragically be burned at the stake, at the young age of 19.

Were there any major heroines we forgot to mention? Let us know in the comments below!