I keep coming across semi-invisible (by which, I suppose I mean to HIStory ;-)) women, who quite obviously wield power or change their society behind the scenes of (& often by manipulating) the males whose stories are told, and I can't find a good project to attach them to - in order to give them a trace on Geni.
There are lots of projects for great women, who do impressive things (especially era-specific projects) - but none that encompass women who affect the course of their society by other means as well -
eg by divorcing one king and offering yourself to whoever beats him, causing a battle that wipes out most of the Irish nobility at Clonrarf: Gormflaith ingen Murchada O'Faelain
by quietly manipulating the politics of the colonial government (Nonesi Great House Wife, Twice regent of the abaThembu);
or killing off their powerful son-in-laws or husbands to change the balance of power: Anseflede
Sharon Doubell "In a Men's World" seems a little redundant, since till relatively recently that was the norm. The two projects below might fit the criteria, unless you tighten the parameters of the title to be a little more specific.
1. http://www.geni.com/projects/Women-who-changed-the-world/5790
2. http://www.geni.com/projects/Legendary-Heroines/1024
Oh sorry - crossposted Malka.
I looked at those two and thought about
1. These women changed their own societies, but not the world - eg not Marie Curie
2. They were definitely not all heroines
So, the construct I'm going for seemed to have more to do with 'manipulating' their access to power through their relationships to the powerful men they were attached to. Hence 'Men's World'.
Happy to Brainstorm
An example, for the sake of trying to pinpoint the construct that I'm feeling isn't covered by any project:
Lady Godiva would fit Project 2. (she was a heroine) and would also fit into this one because what she did was manipulate her noble husband to make a social change by using her position as his wife.
Gloria Steinem, however - fits 2 - as a heroine, but she is very visible on her own terms, not by dint of her relationship to powerful men. So wouldn't fit this project.
Giggle. I didn't murder anyone to ride the camel, and it certainly didn't have any big political effect :-)
Accidentally showing my bra strap in the Semiramis Hotel, and insisting on riding in the front seat with my driver when I was in Egypt - did appear to have earthshattering implications for the men involved though :-)
Sharon Doubell ". . . showing my bra strap in the Semiramis Hotel, and insisting on riding in the front seat with my driver when I was in Egypt" certainly qualifies bucking the system, and showing rare spunk!
:-) I put a post on FB that we were having this discussion - so maybe we'll get more opinions.
(The bra strap was accidental - I was late for an appointment and hadn't tucked it in in my hurry - I had no idea there were men in the world for whom this was titillating. So ugh.
The front seat - well yes, that was on purpose :-))
Great Thread Topic and I would like to contribute, this little list, of which, some are on Geni, too, as far as I know!!! ;-)
Please, pardon the French. heehee! It´s all for the sake of research and information, towards this Topic! :-))
http://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahjewell/historical-women-who-gave-no-fcks
My first thought is that you're going to have a very big list! I'd nominate Eleanor of Aquitaine -- or would you feel she is too well known? Then, there's Maura "the Red" McMahon, wife of Conor O'Brien. She had 25 husbands, which should earn her a spot somewhere.
Also, Katherine Constable, wife #2 of Sir Simon Constable. She poisoned 3 people & her murder trial changed English Dower law (she was acquitted).
Tongue in cheek Sharon Doubell what about our very own DAisy. I researched and photographed her estate.☺