Definition

Proper noun: * Jeannette Rankin: An American politician and women's rights activist. She was a prominent leader in the women's suffrage movement in the state of Montana and holds the distinction of being the first woman ever elected to serve in the United States Congress, specifically in the House of Representatives.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Jeannette Rankin was elected to Congress in 1916, four years before the 19th Amendment granted all American women the right to vote.
  • The biography details the life and pacifist principles of Jeannette Rankin.
  • A statue of Jeannette Rankin stands in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Reference: The name is used as a symbol of a pioneering breakthrough in American political history and women's representation.
  • Following in the footsteps of Jeannette Rankin, a record number of women were elected to Congress in 2018.

Variants and Related Words

• Rankin (surname): Often used alone in historical or political contexts to refer to her.
  • Rankin was a lifelong pacifist and voted against U.S. entry into both World Wars.

Synonyms

• Congresswoman Rankin
• The first congresswoman
• A suffrage leader

Related Phrases

• "A Jeannette Rankin moment": Used metaphorically to describe a historic first, especially for women in politics or leadership.
  • Her election as CEO was a Jeannette Rankin moment for the century-old company.

Noun

1. leader in the women's suffrage movement in Montana; the first woman to serve in the United States House of Representatives (1880-1973)