Discover the American female intellectuals & academics who have made significant contribution to their field. This list is loosely sorted by popularity and includes many great American female intellectuals & academics, such as Ann Dunham, Zora Neale Hurston, Camille Paglia, Margaret Mead and Christina Hoff Sommers.

American Female Intellectuals & Academics

Ann DunhamAnn Dunham
29 November 1942, American
Barack Obama's Mother
Zora Neale HurstonZora Neale Hurston
07 January 1891, American
Folklorist, Anthropologist

Helena BlavatskyHelena Blavatsky
12 August 1831, American, Russian
Philosopher

Margaret MeadMargaret Mead
16 December 1901, American
Cultural Anthropologist

Camille PagliaCamille Paglia
02 April 1947, American
Cultural critic

Christina Hoff SommersChristina Hoff Sommers
28 September 1950, American
Author, Philosopher
Charlotte Perkins GilmanCharlotte Perkins Gilman
03 July 1860, American
Writer

Lillian Moller GilbrethLillian Moller Gilbreth
24 May 1878, American
Mother of Modern Management

Radia PerlmanRadia Perlman
18 December 1951, American
Computer Network Engineer

Emily Greene BalchEmily Greene Balch
08 January 1867, American
Social Activist
Carol S. DweckCarol S. Dweck
17 October 1976, American
Physiologists

Tara WestoverTara Westover
27 September 1986, American
Memoirist
Judith ButlerJudith Butler
24 February 1956, American
Philosopher, Writer, University teacher,

Cokie RobertsCokie Roberts
27 December 1943, American
Journalist

Donna BrazileDonna Brazile
15 December 1959, American
Political strategist
Doris Kearns GoodwinDoris Kearns Goodwin
04 January 1943, American
Journalist, Historian

N. K. JemisinN. K. Jemisin
19 September 1972, American
Novelist
Martha NussbaumMartha Nussbaum
06 May 1947, American
Philosopher, Writer, University teacher

Sarah VowellSarah Vowell
27 December 1969, American
Historian

Carol DweckCarol Dweck
17 October 1946, American
Psychologist
Janet YellenJanet Yellen
13 August 1946, American
Economist, Professor, Banker

Elinor OstromElinor Ostrom
07 August 1933, American
Economist, Political scientist, University teacher
Laura SchlessingerLaura Schlessinger
16 January 1947, American
Radio personality, Writer, Social worker,

Virginia DareVirginia Dare
18 August 1587, American
Colonist

Aviva ChomskyAviva Chomsky
20 April 1957, American
Historian, University teacher

Iris ChangIris Chang
28 March 1968, Chinese, American
Historian, Journalist, Writer
Alva BelmontAlva Belmont
17 January 1853, American
socialite
Carol GilliganCarol Gilligan
28 November 1936, American
Psychologist, Philosopher, Non-fiction writer,

Elizabeth LoftusElizabeth Loftus
16 October 1944, American
Psychologist, Statistician, University teacher

Anne ApplebaumAnne Applebaum
25 July 1964, Polish, American
Columnist, Historian, Writer, Non-fiction writer,

Judy SmithJudy Smith
27 October 1958, American
Crisis manager
Ruth BenedictRuth Benedict
05 June 1887, American
Anthropologist, Folklorist, University teacher,

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Amy CuddyAmy Cuddy
23 June 1972, American
Psychologist

Dee Dee MyersDee Dee Myers
01 September 1961, American
Political scientist

Antonia NovelloAntonia Novello
23 August 1944, Puerto Rican, American
Former Surgeon General

Deirdre McCloskeyDeirdre McCloskey
11 September 1942, American
Economist, Professor, Teacher
Marsha M. LinehanMarsha M. Linehan
05 May 1943, American
Psychologist, University teacher, Writer

Drew Gilpin FaustDrew Gilpin Faust
18 September 1947, American
Historian, University teacher
Mary Parker FollettMary Parker Follett
03 September 1868, American
Social Woker

Mary DalyMary Daly
16 October 1928, American
Theologian, Writer, Philosopher, University

Gayle RubinGayle Rubin
1949 AD, American
Anthropologist, university teacher, essayist, LGBT
Eve Kosofsky SedgwickEve Kosofsky Sedgwick
02 May 1950, American
Academic Scholar

James Tiptree Jr.James Tiptree Jr.
24 August 1915, American
Author
Mary AinsworthMary Ainsworth
01 December 1913, Canadian, American
Psychologist, University teacher

Marija GimbutasMarija Gimbutas
23 January 1921, American
Archaeologist

Grace Lee BoggsGrace Lee Boggs
27 June 1915, American
Writer, Civil rights advocate, Non-fiction writer

Anne TreismanAnne Treisman
27 February 1935, British, American
Psychologist, University teacher

Tara BrachTara Brach
17 May 1953, American
Psychologist
Iris Marion YoungIris Marion Young
02 January 1949, American
Political scientist, Philosopher, University

Patricia Hill CollinsPatricia Hill Collins
01 May 1948, American
Philosopher, Sociologist, University teacher,

Joan Wallach ScottJoan Wallach Scott
18 December 1941, American
Historian, University teacher

Elaine PagelsElaine Pagels
13 February 1943, American
Historian
Ellen Swallow RichardsEllen Swallow Richards
03 December 1842, American
Chemist, University teacher, Economist

Charlotte LawsCharlotte Laws
11 May 1960, American
Politician
Irene RosenfeldIrene Rosenfeld
03 May 1953, American
Business Woman

Gertrude HimmelfarbGertrude Himmelfarb
08 August 1922, American
Historian, University teacher, Writer

Judith Jarvis ThomsonJudith Jarvis Thomson
04 October 1929, American
Philosopher, University teacher
Adrian PiperAdrian Piper
20 September 1948, American
Conceptual Artist

Theda SkocpolTheda Skocpol
04 May 1947, American
Historian, Political scientist, Sociology,
Laurel Thatcher UlrichLaurel Thatcher Ulrich
11 July 1938, American
Historian of the modern age, Historian, University

Nel NoddingsNel Noddings
19 January 1929, American
Philosopher, University teacher

Judith MartinJudith Martin
13 September 1938, American
Economist, Journalist
Gene Stratton-PorterGene Stratton-Porter
17 August 1863, American
Author

Stacy SchiffStacy Schiff
26 October 1961, American
Historian, Author, Journalist, Writer, Biographer
Alison GopnikAlison Gopnik
16 June 1955, American
Psychologist, Author, University teacher, Writer

Mary Whiton CalkinsMary Whiton Calkins
30 March 1863, American
Psychologist, University teacher

Faye WattletonFaye Wattleton
08 July 1943, American
Midwife, Registered nurse, Author, News presenter

Barbara De AngelisBarbara De Angelis
04 March 1951, American
Psychologist, Writer
Alexis HermanAlexis Herman
16 July 1947, American
Politician, Sociologist
Patricia CronePatricia Crone
28 March 1945, American
Author

Jean RitchieJean Ritchie
08 December 1922, American
Historian, Singer, Musicologist, Musician,

Julia RobinsonJulia Robinson
08 December 1919, American
Mathematician, Philosopher, University teacher,

Mary Cover JonesMary Cover Jones
01 September 1896, American
psychologist
Nancy ChodorowNancy Chodorow
20 January 1944, American
Psychologist, Writer, Sociologist

Ellen LangerEllen Langer
25 March 1947, American
Psychologist, University teacher

Margaret Floy WashburnMargaret Floy Washburn
25 July 1871, American
Psychologist

Eugenie ScottEugenie Scott
24 October 1945, American
Anthropologist, University teacher

Sandra BemSandra Bem
22 June 1944, American
Psychologist
Nancy Scheper-HughesNancy Scheper-Hughes
25 September 1944, American
anthropologist

Sherry OrtnerSherry Ortner
19 September 1941, American
Anthropologist, University teacher
Barbara TuchmanBarbara Tuchman
30 January 1912, American
Historian

Ruth Barcan MarcusRuth Barcan Marcus
02 August 1921, American
Philosopher

Helene DeutschHelene Deutsch
09 October 1884, Polish, American
Psychologist, Psychiatrist
Pema ChodronPema Chodron
14 July 1936, American
Philosopher

Susanne Katherina LangerSusanne Katherina Langer
20 December 1895, American
 
Christina RomerChristina Romer
25 December 1958, American
Economist, University teacher