HERSTORY MONTHLY
The Objective of This Inquiry
This project is my way of paying closer attention to how women appear in the historical record, and how often they are pushed to the margins or left out entirely. I’m interested in who gets remembered, who doesn’t, and what those choices say about power, memory, and the stories we learn. By pairing traditional history with modern examples and current events, I’m trying to build a more honest, layered picture of the past and the present.
Selected Monthly Features & Historical Research
Murasaki Shikibu
Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese noblewoman of the Heian period, is credited with writing The Tale of Genji, which many scholars consider the world’s first novel because of its complex characters, emotional depth, and realistic storytelling. Her groundbreaking work not only transformed literature but also preserved valuable insights into medieval Japanese culture and demonstrated the lasting influence of women in history.
Judit Polgár
Judit Polgár, a Hungarian chess grandmaster, became the strongest female chess player in history by competing against and defeating the world’s top male players, including world champion Garry Kasparov. Her achievements challenged stereotypes about gender and intelligence, proving that talent is developed through hard work and opportunity while inspiring generations of girls to pursue chess.
Timnit Gebru
Timnit Gebru is a computer scientist and leading AI researcher whose work exposed bias in facial recognition technology and promoted greater fairness, accountability, and transparency in artificial intelligence systems. Through her research, advocacy, and creation of the Distributed AI Research Institute, she has helped shape global conversations about developing technology that serves society responsibly and ethically.
About the Author
Alana Carpio is a high school student whose academic pursuits are driven by a profound interest in historical documentation. With a focus on the narratives of women frequently omitted from traditional curricula, she utilizes this platform as a systematic medium for exploring and categorizing archival records. Her work reflects a commitment to sharing these overlooked stories through a disciplined, student-academic lens, ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of our collective memory.