Alysse Dalessandro Loves Women Invent!

By Venus Zine Staff
Published: July 10th, 2009 | 12:00am

I’ve been a feminist for as far back as I remember — the first research paper I wrote was on women inventors in sixth grade. I have been supplying people with facts on female-powered breakthroughs ever since — like did you know the first woman to receive a patent in the United States was Mary Kies in 1809 for a hat-making process? Now, I have discovered Susan Casey’s Women Invent! which tells the stories of women and girl inventors from the moment the light bulb went off to obtaining a patent and selling in stores.

And just in case you didn’t know, women invented the following: Kevlar used in bulletproof vests (Stephanie Kwolek), the dishwasher (Josephine Cochran), and liquid paper (Bette Graham). The first woman inducted into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame was Rose Totino for her frozen pizza crust.

For more random facts and stories on female inventors check out Women Invent!

Alysse Dalessandro is a Venus Zine editorial intern