It’s International Women’s Day here at the Niche, and also everywhere else around the entire world. This may come as a surprise, but women are all-around nicher than you’ve been led to believe. Society is scamming you out of understanding that women do things like guard lighthouses, or lead revolts against the Han dynasty in Vietnam (which, in fact, they totally do).

First Niche Woman of the day is Beatrix Potter. 

Now, we all know Beatrix, because she wrote little guys like Squirrel Nutkin and Jemima Puddle-duck and of course Peter Rabbit into existence. That whole sect of childhood literature is niche enough on its own, but she dives further into nichedom with her studies of mycology. She was a mushroom biologist. A Victorian Fungus Scientist & Animal Auteur. What could be nicher?

There she is… Madam CJ Walker.

First of all, her given name was Sarah Breedlove, which is inherently pretty niche of her. She started out working selling hair care products, which she over her lifetime developed into a full-fledged personal business. She also trained other women to be as iconic at hair care as she was. She helped teach those women to be financially independent and shared all kinds of entrepreneurial skills. What started as hair care… those niche origins… turned into a national network of businesswomen.

Who could be next but Ida Lewis?

Oh, Ida. She started taking care of her family’s lighthouse as a kid, and said things like “None but a donkey, would consider it ‘un-feminine’, to save lives.” She rowed BOATS, and rescued like 18 people from drowning in the tumultuous seas of the dreaded East Coast over her lifetime, and was paid more than any other lighthouse keeper in the country.

If you’re from Rhode Island, she’s probably not that niche to you, because Rhode Island is so small that the only thing you’ve got to celebrate is Ida Lewis. I’m sorry.

Next up are the Trưng Sisters.

They have a statue to them and everything.

The Trưng Sisters (Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị) studied the blade, or more accurately, martial arts and warfare. During Vietnamese rebellion against Han China’s occupation, they pulled together an army (of mostly women, may I add) and took over something like 65 citadels. Then they became co-queens regnant of Nanyue, which they protected from further attacks. Niche ahead of their time.

Special thanks to women. Special special thanks to international niche women of history, who never fail to drive and fascinate us. Love you.