The National Women's History Museum recently conducted a survey to gauge how well Americans understand women's history and the nation's preeminent heroines. The survey was conducted to build a case for why a museum dedicated to women's history is needed.
Joan Wages, President and CEO of the National Women's History Museum, has shared the survey results, which indicated that a place where the nation's female role models can be illuminated is desperately needed.
The survey found that only one in four respondents were familiar with major female historical figures like Elizabeth Blackwell, Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Sybil Ludington and less than one percent of respondents knew how many women currently serve in Congress or how many women are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Also, a third of millennials surveyed believe they are knowledgeable about women's history and just 10 percent of adults over age 55 feel the same way.