Defying Limits this Women's History Month

By Beth Jacobson, Ohlinger Studios

Defying Limits: The Stories That Shape Us
When I think about Women’s History Month, I often come back to the idea of defying limits. 

In my lifetime, women’s opportunities have expanded dramatically, but the timeline of that progress is surprisingly short. Women in the United States gained the right to vote just over a century ago. Until the 1970s, many women still needed a male co-signer to open a credit card. 

The history of women’s rights is not distant history. It is living history that is filled with stories of women who pushed beyond the boundaries placed around them. 

Discovering Women Who Defied Limits
When I was in second grade, I received a boxed set of paperback biographies. I was fascinated by the lives of women like Florence Nightingale, Maria Tallchief, Harriet Tubman, and Amelia Earhart. Their stories showed me that people could challenge expectations and reshape what is possible. 

Years later, when I taught second grade, I saw the same curiosity in my students. They loved biographies and wanted to understand how people overcame obstacles. One of their favorites was Wilma Rudolph, who went from childhood illness and leg braces to becoming an Olympic champion. 

These stories matter because they show children something powerful: limits can be challenged. 

Looking Beyond the Famous Names
While history often highlights well-known figures, I’ve always been just as interested in the stories closer to home. 

When I think about women defying limits, I often think about my mother. 

My parents had a relationship that others often remarked on—they were usually holding hands and clearly enjoyed being together. Over time, I watched my mother grow in ways that reflected her own quiet determination with shifting from often following my father’s lead to making space for what she wanted for herself. 

Like many women of her generation, her path was shaped by practicality and expectations. She became a home economics teacher—though she didn’t love to sew or cook—partly because it allowed her to attend college at little cost. Yet her interests were always broader. She loved art, photography, and botany. 

Over time, she began carving out space for those passions. She painted. She took photographs. She became involved in community beautification projects. She made time for the things that mattered to her. 

It wasn’t a dramatic act of rebellion. It was something quieter and just as meaningful. 

It was an act of being true to herself. 

Sometimes defying limits looks exactly like that. 

The Women Who Inspire Us Every Day
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside women who defy limits in both visible and quiet ways. 

I worked under a superintendent and assistant superintendent—both women—who transformed a school district and created exceptional learning experiences and progress for students. 

I also have the opportunity to work within a woman-owned business that has been built over more than 30 years by its founder and president—an example of persistence and long-term commitment to the work. 

And I see women every day living independently, balancing careers, raising children, supporting families, building businesses, exploring their interests and passions, and strengthening their communities. 

These stories may not always make headlines, but they shape our world in meaningful ways. 

Why These Stories Matter
At Ohlinger Studios, we believe stories help people better understand both history and themselves. 

Our Women Rising collection explores the rich history of women’s contributions in America, highlighting both well-known figures and lesser-known individuals who helped drive progress. 

One of my favorite features in the collection is Defying Limits because it brings forward stories that don’t always make it into traditional narratives. 

For example, Mary McLeod Bethune, who founded a school for Black girls that grew into Bethune-Cookman University and became a national leader in both education and civil rights. 

Or Mabel Ping-Hua Lee who marched for women’s suffrage and advocated for voting rights. She worked throughout her life to promote understanding and equality between Chinese and American cultures.  

And Pat Schroeder, who championed women’s rights and working families in Congress and helped advance landmark policies like the Family and Medical Leave Act. 

Some names are familiar. Others are not. 

Yet each of these women reminds us that progress often begins when someone refuses to accept the boundaries placed before them. 

Defying Limits—In Big Ways and Small Ones
Defying limits does not always mean changing the course of history. 

Sometimes it means stepping outside your comfort zone. 
Sometimes it means pursuing a passion that had been set aside. 
Sometimes it means believing your voice matters. 

All of those moments—large and small—create lasting change. 

Women’s History Month encourages us to learn about the remarkable women who came before us. It also invites us to reflect on the women around us today—our mentors, colleagues, friends, and family members. 

And perhaps even ourselves. 

When we understand the stories of those who defied limits before us, we are better prepared to imagine—and create—what comes next. 

That’s one reason why women’s history matters not just in March, but all year long.