In commemoration of International Women’s Day on March 8, Sunway Echo Media is proud to be celebrating women whose faces appear on currency worldwide. From poets to presidents, these women’s invaluable contributions to their countries have earned them a spot on banknotes and coins.
Here are ten countries that feature women on their currency:
Indonesia’s 1,000-rupiah bill features Cut Nyak Meutia, a National Hero of Indonesia who led the Acehnese guerrilla force in the fight against the Dutch in the late 1800s. She died when she resisted capture by the Dutch at her hideout. Thanks to her bravery and heroism, Cut Nyak Meutia is seen as a symbol of pride among Indonesian women.
The three women seen on Filipino currency are Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Corazon Aquino and Josefa Llanes Escoda, on the 200, 500 and 1,000-peso banknote respectively.
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, during which the country enjoyed great economic development. In 2007, the economy expanded at its fastest pace in 30 years, mitigating the impact of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis on the Philippine economy. On the bill, Arroyo is depicted at her presidential inauguration ceremony.
Corazon Aquino was the first woman to hold the office of President of the Philippines. As the 11th president, she repealed her predecessor’s oppressive laws and abolished his dictatorial government. She is pictured alongside her husband, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.
Josefa Llanes Escoda, commonly known as the Florence Nightingale of the Philippines, was a social worker and war heroine who died defending her country during the Japanese Occupation. Known for her women’s suffrage campaigns, she gave Filipinas a voice and promoted youth development in the nation. Escoda also founded the Girl Scouts of the Philippines and the Boy’s Town for the less fortunate.
Ichiyo Higuchi was a pioneering female professional modern literature writer whose works mostly comprised prose and poetry. She wrote about love, ambition, suffering and cruelty among the Meiji middle class. Although Higuchi died of tuberculosis at the tender age of 24, her legacy lives on centuries later – four of her stories have inspired films and television shows, while a biopic about her was released in 1939. Japan’s 5,000-won banknote carries Higuchi’s image.
4. South Korea
The image on South Korea’s 50,000-won bill is that of Shin Saimdang, a prominent Joseon dynasty poet and painter. She balanced her artistic pursuits with her familial duties, raising seven children and caring for her aged parents while painting and more. Although 500 years have passed since her death, Shin is still revered as the epitome of filial piety and good parenting. Many of her works have survived till this day. In fact, her drawings ‘Mookpododo’ and ‘Chochungdosubyeong’ can be seen alongside Shin on the bill, while her other paintings, ‘Wolmaedo’ and ‘Pungjugdo’ are illustrated on the reverse.
On the Syrian 100-pound note is Queen Zenobia, queen of Palmyra (present-day Syria) in the third-century. Most notably, she conquered Egypt and the Roman East. While in power, Zenobia filled her court with intellectuals, protected those from minority religions and ruled her multiethnic and multicultural people well. However, her reign was short-lived. After a few years, Zenobia was captured and exiled to Rome where she spent the remainder of her days.
England’s bills carry the images of Queen Elizabeth II and Jane Austen. All English banknotes portray the Queen, while Jane Austen’s image is seen on the 10-pound banknote. The Queen can also be seen on coins and many former British colonies’ bills.
Quite possibly the world’s most well-loved royal, Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-ruling British monarch. Known for her devotion to a life of service, the Queen is a patron of over 600 charitable organisations ranging from youth development to preservation of the environment. In the span of just one year in 2012, the Queen helped these organisations raise a whopping £1.4 billion!
Despite having only written six books, Jane Austen is one of the most prolific figures in English literature. She focused on how women used marriage as a means to obtain social security and higher social standing but at the same time, injected sarcasm, humour and irony in her work. Austen’s books have been adapted for film and television countless times, and are still popular today as the themes in her work are as relevant as ever.
Sacagawea was a Shoshone Native American woman, memorialised on the American dollar coin in appreciation of her contributions to the 1803 Lewis and Clark exhibition which explored the Louisiana Territory. However, as no image of Sacagawea exists, her likeness on the coin is based on a modern Shoshone woman’s features. On the coin, Sacagawea is depicted carrying her son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau.
Viola Desmond was a Canadian champion for women’s rights who famously defied racial segregation laws at a movie theatre in Nova Scotia. During a movie, Davis sat in a downstairs seat although she had bought an upstairs seat ticket (known as the non-white area) as the ticket seller refused to sell her a seat downstairs. She refused to move when asked to do so, and policemen dragged her out of the theatre and into jail and charged with tax evasion (there was a one-cent difference in the tax for the seat she had paid for versus the seat she sat in).
Desmond’s incident was publicized widely and was heard in Nova Scotia’s Supreme Court, where she was convicted. Posthumously, she was featured on the Canadian 10-dollar note and granted a free pardon by the Nova Scotian governor, acknowledging that Desmond’s conviction was erroneous and she was in fact innocent.
Four women appear on Mexican currency – Frida Kahlo, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Carmen Serdan and Hermila Galindo. Sor Juana is seen on the 200-peso note, while Kahlo makes an appearance on the 500-peso note. Serdan and Galindo are both on the 1,000-peso note.
As a poet, scholar and nun who lived in the 1600s, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz’s ideas were considered radical for many reasons. Some felt that Sor Juana should only concern herself with spiritual matters, while others criticised the topics of her work. Sor Juana wrote about colonialism and women’s right to education (she mostly educated herself by reading books in her grandfather’s library) but she also criticised misogyny and the hypocrisy of men. Now, she is highly regarded as a feminist icon of Mexico who made significant contributions to historic and modern feminist movements.
Frida Kahlo was one of Latin America’s most renowned artists. Described as a surrealist, she is known for her colourful portraits, including those of herself – one of which we see on the banknote above! Kahlo’s vibrant art explores the themes of feminism, religion and more, drawing inspiration from Mexican culture, Catholicism and her marital life with her husband.
A recognised ‘Distinguished Citizen of Puebla’. Carmen Serdan aided in the Mexican Revolution by founding the Revolutionary Junta de Puebla and planning for the armed uprising and handling the logistics of the revolution in her city of Puebla, Mexico.
Hermila Galindo was a trailblazer in many ways. She was one of the first feminists who supported ‘extreme’ ideas such as sex education and divorce, and was the first woman to run for elected office in Mexico. At just 20, Galindo joined hands with a few others to publish the country’s first feminist magazine, La Mujer Moderna (‘The Modern Woman’).
When Mexico held their first feminist congress, Galindo, who was unable to attend, wrote a speech criticising the double standard for men and women and proposed that women be considered equal to men. The same speech also suggested sex education in schools and theorized that Catholicism was hindering feminism. Such unprecedented ideologies riled up the audience who even asked that Galindo’s paper be destroyed.
In defiance of laws prohibiting women from running for elective office, Galindo also ran for the position of district deputy and surprisingly won in a landslide election, although she was not allowed to take office.
10. New Zealand
Kate Sheppard was the inaugural President of the National Council of Women of New Zealand and a very active suffragette. She actively networked with politicians, wrote to the press and organised petitions and public gatherings in her fight for women’s rights.
She was also the editor of New Zealand’s first woman-run newspaper, The White Ribbon. Sheppard also circulated pamphlets campaigning for women’s right to vote, giving rise to a petition that garnered over 30,000 signatures calling for the government to grant this right. Her efforts were successful, and in 1983, New Zealand was first to grant women the right to vote.
Female representation on currency is still very much lacking, although it is slowly improving. Tunisia recently started circulating banknotes featuring Tawhida Ben Cheikh, the country’s first female doctor. The United States has also implemented the American Women Quarters Program which will recognise the achievements of 20 American women, including Chinese-American Hollywood star Anna May Wong.
From all of us at Echo Media, Happy International Women’s Day and cheers to seeing more women on currency in the future!
Written by: Natalie
Edited by: Jamie
Kwa kuadhimisha Siku ya Kimataifa ya Wanawake, Machi 8, Sunway Echo Media inajivunia kusherehekea wanawake ambao nyuso zao zinaonekana kwenye sarafu ulimwenguni kote. Kutoka washairi hadi marais, michango ya wanawake hawa isiyo na thamani kwa nchi zao imewapatia nafasi kwenye noti na sarafu. Nchini Indonesia, fedha ya rupia 1,000 ina picha ya Cut Nyak Meitia, shujaa wa taifa la Indonesia ambaye aliongoza vikosi vya wapiganaji wa Aceh katika mapigano dhidi ya Uholanzi mwishoni mwa miaka ya 1800. Alikufa alipopinga kukamatwa na Waholanzi katika makao yake ya siri. Kwa sababu ya ujasiri wake, Cut Nyak Meutia anaonekana kama ishara ya fahari miongoni mwa wanawake wa Indonesia. Wanawake watatu wanaoonekana kwenye sarafu ya Filipino ni Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Corazon Aquino na Josefa Lunes Escoda, kwenye noti ya pesa ya pesos 200, 500 na 1000. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo alikuwa Rais wa 14 wa Ufilipino kutoka 2001 hadi 2010, wakati ambapo nchi hiyo ilifurahia maendeleo makubwa ya kiuchumi. Uchumi wa Ufilipino uliongezeka kwa kasi zaidi katika miaka 30 iliyopita, na kupunguza athari za mgogoro wa kifedha wa kimataifa wa 2008. Kwenye muswada huo, Arroyo anaonyeshwa katika sherehe yake ya kuapishwa kama rais. Corazon Aquino alikuwa mwanamke wa kwanza kushikilia ofisi ya Rais wa Ufilipino. Akiwa Rais wa kumi na moja, alibatilisha sheria za ukandamizaji za mtangulizi wake na kufuta serikali yake ya kidikteta. "Mwanamke huyo, ambaye pia ni Seneta Benigno Aquino Jr., aliitwa ""Florence Nightingale"" na alikuwa mshiriki wa chama cha siasa cha Philippines." Anajulikana kwa kampeni zake za haki ya wanawake ya kupiga kura, alitoa sauti ya Wafilipino na kukuza maendeleo ya vijana katika taifa. Escoda pia alianzisha Girl Scouts ya Ufilipino na Mji wa Wavulana kwa ajili ya wasio na bahati. Ichiyo Higuchi alikuwa mwandishi wa kwanza wa fasihi ya kisasa wa kike ambaye kazi zake zilijumuisha maandishi na mashairi. Aliandika juu ya upendo, tamaa, mateso na ukatili miongoni mwa tabaka la kati la Meiji. Ingawa Higuchi alikufa kutokana na ugonjwa wa kifua kikuu akiwa na umri wa miaka 24, urithi wake unaendelea kuishi karne nyingi baadaye - hadithi zake nne zimechochea filamu na vipindi vya televisheni, wakati filamu ya wasifu juu yake ilitolewa mnamo 1939. Benki ya Japan ya 5,000-won ina picha ya Higuchi. 4. Uwe na uhakika Picha ya sarafu ya Korea Kusini ya 50,000 ya Shin Sae-dong, mshairi na mchoraji maarufu wa nasaba ya Joseon. Alipokuwa akifanya kazi ya sanaa, alishirikiana na familia yake, akilea watoto saba, na kuwatunza wazazi wake wazee-wazee. Ingawa miaka 500 imepita tangu kifo chake, Shin bado anaheshimiwa kama mfano wa uaminifu wa watoto na uzazi mzuri. Kazi zake nyingi zimehifadhiwa hadi leo. Kwa kweli, michoro yake <unk>Mookpododo<unk> na <unk>Chochungdosubyeong<unk> inaweza kuonekana pamoja na Shin kwenye muswada, wakati michoro yake mingine, <unk>Wolmaedo<unk> na <unk>Pungjugdo<unk> inaonyeshwa upande wa nyuma. Nakala ya sarafu ya Siria ya pauni 100 ina picha ya Malkia Zenobia, malkia wa Palmyra (Siria ya leo) katika karne ya tatu. Hasa, alishinda Misri na Mashariki ya Roma. Wakati akiwa madarakani, Zenobia alijaza mahakama yake na wasomi, aliwalinda wale kutoka dini ndogo na akawatawala watu wake wa makabila na tamaduni mbalimbali vizuri. Hata hivyo, utawala wake haukudumu kwa muda mrefu. Baada ya miaka michache, Zenobia alikamatwa na kupelekwa uhamishoni Roma ambako alitumia siku zake zote. Sarafu za Uingereza zina picha za Malkia Elizabeth wa Pili na Jane Austen. Nakala zote za benki za Uingereza zina picha ya Malkia, wakati picha ya Jane Austen inaonekana kwenye noti ya benki ya pauni 10. Malkia pia anaweza kuonekana kwenye sarafu na noti nyingi za koloni za zamani za Uingereza. Mfalme wa Uingereza anayependwa zaidi duniani, Malkia Elizabeth II, ndiye ametawala kwa muda mrefu zaidi. Kwa kuwa anajulikana kwa kujitolea kwake kwa maisha ya huduma, Malkia ni mlinzi wa mashirika zaidi ya 600 ya misaada kuanzia maendeleo ya vijana hadi uhifadhi wa mazingira. Katika kipindi cha mwaka mmoja tu, Malkia alisaidia mashirika hayo kukusanya £1.4 bilioni. Ingawa Jane Austen aliandika vitabu sita tu, yeye ni mmoja wa watu mashuhuri zaidi katika fasihi ya Kiingereza. Alizungumzia jinsi wanawake walivyotumia ndoa kama njia ya kupata usalama wa kijamii na msimamo wa juu wa kijamii, lakini wakati huo huo, aliingiza ucheshi, ucheshi na ucheshi katika kazi yake. Vitabu vya Austen vimebadilishwa kwa filamu na televisheni mara nyingi, na bado ni maarufu leo kama mandhari katika kazi yake ni muhimu kama milele. Sacagawea alikuwa mwanamke wa asili wa Shoshone, aliyetambuliwa kwenye sarafu ya dola ya Marekani kwa shukrani kwa michango yake katika maonyesho ya 1803 ya Lewis na Clark ambayo ilichunguza eneo la Louisiana. Hata hivyo, kwa kuwa hakuna picha ya Sacagawea, mfano wake kwenye sarafu unategemea sifa za mwanamke wa kisasa wa Shoshone. Kwenye sarafu hiyo, Sacagawea anaonyeshwa akiwa amemchukua mwana wake, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Viola Desmond alikuwa bingwa wa Canada kwa haki za wanawake ambaye alijulikana kwa kupinga sheria za mgawanyiko wa rangi katika ukumbi wa sinema huko Nova Scotia. Wakati wa sinema, Davis alikaa katika kiti cha chini ingawa alikuwa amenunua tiketi ya kiti cha juu (inajulikana kama eneo lisilo la nyeupe) kwani muuzaji wa tikiti alikataa kumuuzia kiti cha chini. Alipokuwa akikataa kuondoka, polisi walimvuta nje ya ukumbi wa maonyesho na kumkamata kwa kukwepa kodi (kulikuwa na tofauti ya senti moja katika kodi ya kiti alicholipa na kiti alichokichukua). Tukio la Desmond lilitangazwa sana na kusikilizwa katika Mahakama Kuu ya Nova Scotia, ambapo alihukumiwa. Baada ya kifo chake, picha yake ilionekana kwenye noti ya dola 10 ya Canada na akapewa msamaha wa bure na gavana wa Nova Scotia, akikiri kwamba hatia ya Desmond ilikuwa ya makosa na yeye kwa kweli hakuwa na hatia. Wanawake wanne wanaonekana kwenye sarafu ya Mexico <unk> Frida Kahlo, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Carmen Serdan na Hermila Galindo. Sor Juana anaonekana kwenye noti ya pesa 200 na Kahlo anaonekana kwenye noti ya pesa 500. Serdan na Galindo wote wawili wako kwenye noti ya pesa elfu moja. Kama mshairi, msomi na mtawa aliyeishi katika miaka ya 1600, mawazo ya Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz yalichukuliwa kuwa ya kimapinduzi kwa sababu nyingi. Wengine walihisi kwamba Sor Juana anapaswa tu kujishughulisha na mambo ya kiroho, huku wengine wakikosoa mada za kazi yake. Sor Juana aliandika juu ya ukoloni na haki ya wanawake ya kupata elimu (alijifunza mwenyewe kwa kusoma vitabu katika maktaba ya babu yake) lakini pia alikosoa chuki ya wanawake na unafiki wa wanaume. Sasa, yeye ni sana kuchukuliwa kama icon feminist ya Mexico ambaye alifanya michango muhimu kwa harakati za kihistoria na kisasa feminist. Frida Kahlo alikuwa mmoja wa wasanii mashuhuri zaidi wa Amerika ya Latini. Alifafanuliwa kama surrealist, anajulikana kwa picha zake za rangi, ikiwa ni pamoja na zile za yeye mwenyewe - moja ambayo tunaona kwenye noti ya benki hapo juu! Sanaa ya Kahlo inaelezea mandhari ya wanawake, dini na zaidi, ikivutiwa na utamaduni wa Mexico, Ukatoliki na maisha yake ya ndoa na mumewe. Mtangazaji aliyetambuliwa wa "Mraia Mtukufu wa Puebla". Carmen Serdan alisaidia katika Mapinduzi ya Mexico kwa kuanzisha Junta ya Mapinduzi ya Puebla na kupanga mapinduzi ya silaha na kushughulikia vifaa vya mapinduzi katika mji wake wa Puebla, Mexico. Hermila Galindo alikuwa mwanzilishi katika njia nyingi. Alikuwa mmoja wa wanaharakati wa kwanza wa wanawake ambao waliunga mkono mawazo ya'mzito' kama vile elimu ya ngono na talaka, na alikuwa mwanamke wa kwanza kugombea ofisi iliyochaguliwa nchini Mexico. Alipokuwa na umri wa miaka 20 tu, Galindo alijiunga na wengine wachache kuchapisha jarida la kwanza la wanawake nchini humo, La Mujer Moderna (Mwanamke wa Kisasa). Wakati Mexico ilifanya mkutano wao wa kwanza wa wanawake, Galindo, ambaye hakuweza kuhudhuria, aliandika hotuba akishutumu viwango viwili kwa wanaume na wanawake na alipendekeza kwamba wanawake wafikishwe sawa na wanaume. Hotuba hiyohiyo pia ilipendekeza elimu ya ngono katika shule na kueleza kwamba Ukatoliki ulikuwa ukizuia harakati za wanawake. Mawazo hayo yasiyo na kifani yaliwasumbua wasikilizaji ambao hata waliomba kwamba karatasi ya Galindo iharibiwe. Kwa kupinga sheria zinazokataza wanawake kuwania nafasi za uchaguzi, Galindo pia alishindana kwa nafasi ya naibu wa wilaya na kwa kushangaza alishinda katika uchaguzi wa ardhi, ingawa hakuruhusiwa kuchukua ofisi. Kumi. Kate Shepard, rais wa kwanza wa Baraza la Taifa la Wanawake wa New Zealand, alikuwa mwanaharakati wa haki za wanawake. Alifanya kazi kwa bidii na wanasiasa, aliandika kwa waandishi wa habari na kuandaa ombi na mikusanyiko ya umma katika mapambano yake kwa haki za wanawake. Pia alikuwa mhariri wa gazeti la kwanza la wanawake la New Zealand, The White Ribbon. Sheppard pia alisafirisha vijitabu vya kampeni kwa ajili ya haki ya wanawake ya kupiga kura, na kusababisha ombi ambalo lilikusanya zaidi ya saini 30,000 za kuomba serikali kutoa haki hii. Kwa sababu hiyo, mwaka wa 1983 New Zealand ikawa nchi ya kwanza kutoa haki ya wanawake ya kupiga kura. Uwakilishi wa wanawake kwenye sarafu bado unakosa sana, ingawa unaboresha polepole. Tunisia imezindua sarafu ya fedha iliyo na picha ya daktari wa kwanza mwanamke nchini humo, Tawheedah Ben Sheikh. "Mwaka huu, Marekani imeanzisha mpango wa ""American Women Quarters Program"" ambao unazingatia mafanikio ya wanawake 20 wa Marekani, ikiwa ni pamoja na nyota wa Hollywood wa China-Mmarekani Anna May Wong." Kutoka kwetu sote katika Echo Media, Siku ya Kimataifa ya Wanawake yenye furaha na salamu kwa kuona wanawake zaidi kwenye sarafu katika siku zijazo! Imeandikwa na: Natalie Iliyorekebishwa na: Jamie