Italian-American women have led the way for women in many areas of American life including business, politics, labor, and many other fields. Some of those influential women include Mother Francis Cabrini. Mother Cabrini was the first American saint. Mother Cabrini was also the founder of the Sacred Heart; she also founded 14 American colleges, 98 schools, 28 orphanages, and eight hospitals. Mother Cabrini came to America in 1889 and became a US citizen in 1909.
The first woman ever elected governor was an Italian American named Ella T. Grasso of Connecticut. After being elected governor of Connecticut she helped pull the state out of debt, and organized an “open government” in which public records became more accessible.
Italian-American women also made their mark on the sports world; Mary Lou Retton was the first woman to ever win a gold medal in the Olympics. She won a total of five medals in 1984. In 1985 Retton became the youngest to be entered into the US Olympic Committee Hall of Fame.
