These items were made by who?

Everyday Items Invented by Women

Some incredible women were the masterminds behind these everyday household items, so don’t take them for granted. Let’s all appreciate these innovators for what they have done for us!

1. The Nostalgic BROWN PAPER BAG - Margaret Knight

• People use paper bags on a daily basis! Paper bags are easy to carry, neat, and can hold all of your items.

• Margaret Knight was an amazing inventor of machines for everyday purposes. She was able to use her critical thinking and creative mindset to produce items that are still used today.

• Some of her other inventions include: a dress and skirt shield (which is used to prevent sweat from soaking into the clothing), a clasp to hold robes, and a spit (which is a pointed tool used to skewer meat for cooking)

2. The Convenient FOOT-PEDAL TRASH CAN - Lillian Gilbreth

• The foot pedal trash can allows us to be able to lift the lid of the trash can without touching it with our hands, making them dirty. Thankful for that right now! *Remember to wash hands frequently and wear a mask in public*

• Lillian Gilbreth improved existing inventions by adding little details and twists. She took a household item, and catapulted its usage by applying the simple addition of a pedal. Lillian Gilbreth was described in the 1940s as “a genius in the art of living”!

• Other inventions by Gilbreth: shelves inside refrigerator doors, electric food mixer, and more!

3. The Ingenious WINDSHIELD WIPERS - Mary Anderson

• Back in the day, long ago, there were cars that didn’t have windshield wipers. The drivers would have to pull over every time it rained or snowed. Some would even drive without being able to see! Now, windshield wipers are a must! They clear the rain and snow on your front view window, allowing you to safely arrive at your destination.

• Mary Anderson’s determination gave us the underappreciated windshield wipers. When trying to convince others about the windshield wipers, Mary Anderson was constantly rejected. People would laugh at her idea and said the wipers would distract the driver, causing accidents. Luckily, Mary Anderson didn’t give up; she made many prototypes to find the right material to endure the weather. She used wood, rubber, and then finally found the perfect combination of materials to build a windshield wiper that is still used today - silicone and aluminum.

There are many examples of items, products, and practices that were first introduced by women. Many of them don’t get the credit they deserve. You can help fix that problem by taking some time out of your day to look into this topic some more! Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series if you want to learn more!

Sources:

Green, Amanda. “19 Things You Might Not Know Were Invented by Women.” Mental Floss, 15 Mar. 2018, www.mentalfloss.com/article/53164/19-things-you-might-not-know-were-invented-women.