Happy International Women’s Day! Join us as we honor the indomitable spirit of women worldwide with our special edition International Women’s Day trivia!
This is an opportunity to delve into the remarkable stories of influential women who have shaped history, shattered ceilings, and inspired generations.
From trailblazing suffragists to groundbreaking scientists, iconic musicians to visionary leaders, our trivia questions cover a diverse spectrum of achievements and contributions made by women across the globe.
Whether you’re an avid history buff or simply eager to learn more about the incredible women who paved the way, this trivia is designed to be both entertaining and enlightening.
Ever wondered about the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Physics? Curious about the African American mathematician who played a crucial role in early U.S. space missions? We’ll cover all this and more.
Join us in celebrating the resilience, brilliance, and accomplishments of women throughout history!
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International Women’s Day Trivia: All About IWD
Let’s start with a couple of intro questions about International Women’s Day:
When was the first National Woman’s Day celebrated in the United States, marking the precursor to International Women’s Day?
Answer: 28 February 1909
What are the symbolic colors of International Women’s Day, and what do they represent?
Answer: Purple for dignity and justice, green for hope, and white for purity.
Who proposed the idea of a global International Women’s Day in 1910, paving the way for the inaugural celebration in 1911?
Answer: Clara Zetkin
When did the United Nations officially recognize and begin celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD)?
Answer: 1975
What is the primary role of the United Nations in sponsoring International Women’s Day each year?
Answer: Encouraging countries to recognize “acts of courage and resolve by ordinary women who have played an outstanding role in the history of their countries and communities.”
International Women’s Day Trivia: Historical Moments
In what year did the United States pass the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote nationwide?
Answer: 1920
Who was the iconic British suffragette leader known for her radical activism, hunger strikes, and role in the early 20th-century suffrage movement?
Answer: Emmeline Pankhurst
The Women’s March, a global movement advocating for women’s rights, gained widespread attention after its inaugural event in which city in 2017?
Answer: Washington, D.C.
In what year did the Women’s March become an annual event, with millions participating in various cities worldwide to advocate for gender equality?
Answer: 2018
Which country was the first to grant women the right to vote in national elections, setting an example for suffrage movements globally?
Answer: New Zealand (1893)
The Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 is considered a landmark event in the women’s suffrage movement. In which U.S. state did it take place?
Answer: New York
Which African-American suffragist and women’s rights activist co-founded the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and was a prominent figure in the suffrage movement?
Answer: Mary Church Terrell
The Silent Sentinels, a group of suffragists led by Alice Paul, protested outside the White House. What unique and nonviolent strategy did they employ in their demonstrations?
Answer: Silent picketing, holding banners with quotes from President Woodrow Wilson and other politicians to highlight their hypocrisy on democracy and women’s rights.
International Women’s Day Trivia: Celebrating Iconic Women In History
Great job! Now let’s celebrate all the women who have been strong, resilient, and influential over the years:
Who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, honored in both Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911)?
Answer: Marie Curie
Which ancient Egyptian queen was known for her intelligence and political acumen, ruling alongside her brothers and then as a powerful pharaoh herself?
Answer: Cleopatra VII
Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, initiated which campaign to address childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles among children?
Answer: Let’s Move!
Before becoming the First Lady, Michelle Obama worked as a lawyer and served as an associate dean at which prestigious university?
Answer: University of Chicago Law School
Who does the Guinness World Records consider the best-selling female singer of all time?
Answer: Madonna is believed to have sold the most records among any female music artists in history, with 335 million records sold worldwide.
Tsai Ing-wen was the first female president of which country?
Answer: Taiwan
Which First Lady, known for her active involvement in social and political issues, was the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and held the longest tenure in the role from 1933 to 1945?
Answer: Eleanor Roosevelt
Who is considered the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement” for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott?
Answer: Rosa Parks
Which 17th-century Mexican nun is celebrated for her mystical writings and poetry, advocating for women’s education?
Answer: Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz
Named the “Queen of Soul,” this legendary singer became a symbol of empowerment and civil rights. Who is she?
Answer: Aretha Franklin
Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932, setting multiple aviation records?
Answer: Amelia Earhart
Which German physicist, who became involved in politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall, was elected the first female chancellor in 2005?
Answer: Angela Merkel
This Indian politician and independence activist was the first woman to hold the position of Prime Minister in India. Who is she?
Answer: Indira Gandhi
Known as the “Lady with the Lamp,” which British nurse revolutionized healthcare practices during the Crimean War?
Answer: Florence Nightingale
Who became the first African American woman to travel in space, flying aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992?
Answer: Mae Jemison
Which African American mathematician and NASA aerospace engineer played a crucial role in the success of the early U.S. space missions, inspiring the film “Hidden Figures”?
Answer: Katherine Johnson
Who is the American singer-songwriter known for her philanthropy, country-pop hits, and empowering anthems such as “Shake It Off”?
Answer: Taylor Swift
Which American actress and producer co-founded the production company Flower Films and starred in films like “Never Been Kissed” and “50 First Dates”?
Answer: Drew Barrymore
Who is the British actress and producer known for her roles in the “Harry Potter” film series and her advocacy for gender equality in the film industry?
Answer: Emma Watson
Named one of the highest-paid actresses in the world, this American actress is known for her roles in “La La Land” and “The Amazing Spider-Man”. Who is she?
Answer: Emma Stone
Which Indian actress made history as the first Indian woman to win a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in “The Mindy Project”?
Answer: Mindy Kaling
This Chinese-American actress and producer starred in the TV series “Elementary” and gained recognition for her role in “Memoirs of a Geisha.” Who is she?
Answer: Lucy Liu
Which 21-year-old actress was chosen “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire magazine in 2006, becoming the youngest-ever winner?
Answer: Scarlett Johansson
Which Vietnamese-American actress played the lead role in the critically acclaimed film “The Farewell,” earning a Golden Globe nomination?
Answer: Awkwafina (Nora Lum)
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the first African American major-party candidate for what political office?
Answer: President of the United States
Which influential author became the first African American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature?
Answer: Toni Morrison
This Chinese revolutionary and feminist leader played a significant role in the early 20th-century Chinese women’s rights movement. Who is she?
Answer: Qiu Jin
Which American poet and civil rights activist won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
Answer: Maya Angelou
Which American abolitionist and former enslaved person delivered a powerful speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” at a women’s rights convention in 1851?
Answer: Sojourner Truth
This Brazilian architect and designer is renowned for her innovative modernist creations, such as the iconic Brasília. Who is she?
Answer: Lina Bo Bardi
Who is the Pakistani education advocate and Nobel laureate known for her activism in promoting girls’ education worldwide?
Answer: Malala Yousafzai
Named the “Iron Lady,” this British Prime Minister was the first woman to hold the office in the United Kingdom. Who is she?
Answer: Margaret Thatcher
Which American abolitionist, suffragist, and women’s rights activist authored the “Declaration of Sentiments” in 1848?
Answer: Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Who is the Afghan-American physician and women’s rights activist known for her work with the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)?
Answer: Sima Samar
This Mexican artist, famous for her surrealist paintings and self-portaits, challenged societal norms and gender roles in her work. Who is she?
Answer: Frida Kahlo
Which American tennis player broke the color barrier in tennis and became the first African American to win a Grand Slam title?
Answer: Althea Gibson
Who is the Ethiopian-born supermodel and philanthropist who became the first woman of color to appear on the cover of Vogue?
Answer: Liya Kebede
This American journalist and civil rights activist is known for her investigative journalism and coverage of lynching in the early 20th century. Who is she?
Answer: Ida B. Wells
Named the “Queen of Jazz,” this American singer and songwriter had a career spanning over six decades. Who is she?
Answer: Ella Fitzgerald
Who is the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who became the country’s first black female Deputy President?
Answer: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
This American computer scientist and Navy rear admiral played a crucial role in developing the programming language COBOL. Who is she?
Answer: Grace Hopper
This American actress and civil rights activist was the first African American woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2001. Who is she?
Answer: Halle Berry
Named one of the world’s most influential people, this American actress and producer is known for her roles in “Hidden Figures” and “The Help.” Who is she?
Answer: Octavia Spencer
This British actress and producer is acclaimed for her roles in films like “12 Years a Slave” and “Black Panther.” Who is she?
Answer: Lupita Nyong’o
Who is the American actress, producer, and director known for her work in films like “The Blind Side” and “Gravity,” earning two Academy Awards?
Answer: Sandra Bullock
This Indian actress is known for her roles in Bollywood and Hollywood films, including “Quantico.” Who is she?
Answer: Priyanka Chopra
Which American actress and producer rose to fame with her roles in “The Devil Wears Prada” and “The Iron Lady,” winning multiple Academy Awards?
Answer: Meryl Streep
This American filmmaker, known for her work in directing and producing documentaries, won Academy Awards for “Citizenfour” and “Taxi to the Dark Side.” Who is she?
Answer: Laura Poitras
Named the “Empress of the Blues,” this American blues singer had a profound impact on the genre during the 1920s and 1930s. Who is she?
Answer: Bessie Smith
Who was the American suffragist and women’s rights activist who co-founded the National Woman’s Party?
Answer: Alice Paul
This Native American and African American woman became the first woman to earn a pilot’s license in the United States. Who is she?
Answer: Bessie Coleman
Who was the African American journalist and anti-lynching crusader who co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)?
Answer: Ida B. Wells
Who is the American transgender activist and author known for her pivotal role in the Stonewall riots and early LGBTQ+ activism?
Answer: Marsha P. Johnson
This American author and poet was a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance, known for her works like “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Who is she?
Answer: Zora Neale Hurston
Who is the Ghanaian-American novelist and essayist known for her works such as “Americanah” and “Half of a Yellow Sun”?
Answer: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Named “The Angel of the Battlefield,” this American surgeon served on the front lines during the Civil War and later founded the American Red Cross. Who is she?
Answer: Clara Barton
This American journalist and civil rights activist played a pivotal role in the desegregation of schools and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Who is she?
Answer: Dorothy Counts
Who is the Japanese-American civil rights activist who fought against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II?
Answer: Yuri Kochiyama
What nickname was given to Harriet Tubman for her role in guiding enslaved individuals to freedom along the Underground Railroad?
Answer: Moses
Named “The Queen of Salsa,” this Cuban-American singer was a trailblazer in Latin music. Who is she?
Answer: Celia Cruz
Who was the American playwright and author of “A Raisin in the Sun,” the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway?
Answer: Lorraine Hansberry
This American businesswoman and philanthropist was the first African American woman to become a self-made millionaire. Who is she?
Answer: Madam C.J. Walker
Who is the American business executive and prior CEO of YouTube, recognized for her contributions to technology and media?
Answer: Susan Wojcicki
Named the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, this American businesswoman and influencer co-founded a cosmetics company that makes things like lipsticks. Who is she?
Answer: Kylie Jenner
Which Korean-American actress rose to fame for her role as Cristina Yang on the hit TV series “Grey’s Anatomy”?
Answer: Sandra Oh
This American businesswoman is the co-founder and CEO of Stitch Fix, an online personal styling service. Who is she?
Answer: Katrina Lake
Who is the Indian-American businesswoman and former CEO of PepsiCo, known for her leadership in the corporate world and advocacy for women’s empowerment?
Answer: Indra Nooyi
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