The SPARK Movement is aiming to put women on the map.
After the nonprofit noticed that Google’s daily doodles featured women only 17% of the time, they reached out to the tech giants. Google agreed with them, and the two have worked together to feature more history-making women. In addition, SPARK was invited to actively research and honor notable women through a mapping project powered by Google’s Field Trip app.
Now, when app users log into Field Trip and switch on the history notifications, they are alerted when they are approaching the exact location where a woman made history at some point in time and can read a bit about her and her achievements.
One of the most different things about SPARK is that it is a movement by and for girls, ages 13-22. All of the research and work behind the On the Map project was performed by the girls, who hope to educate themselves on inspirational women in addition to spreading the word.
Some of the women on the Google powered map so far include:
- The Arpilleristas in Santiago, Chile, a group of women who wove colorful tapestries documenting the turmoil and violence of Pinochet’s regime.
- Mary Ellen Pleasant in San Francisco, CA, an activist and abolitionist who, among other things, would dress like a jockey to help slaves escape their plantations.
- Mary Anning in Lyme, England, a renowned fossilist who discovered fossils of a Plesiosaurus, rocking the scientific community to its core.
The team has researched and mapped around 100 notable women on the app so far and invite those who are interested to nominate their favorite historical women to be featured.