Women in the Wild West were enterprising women who faced the harsh conditions of their time, lawlessness, and life with very few comforts. The women of the Wild West were not like many movies and books portray them; they were not helpless, weak, or incapable of thinking for themselves. Instead, it was women who raised children, founded churches and schools, repelled Indian attacks, and many even participated in women's right to vote. Women of the West made major contributions to their families and communities and this essay will discuss two of them, Eliza Snow and Calamity Jane. When I think of the women of the Wild West, I think of the women who broke the mold, so to speak, on how a woman should act. I like to think of women like Bridget “Biddy” Mason who was born into slavery and was able to look adversity in the face and emerge formidable. Bridget Mason started a shelter outside her home for abandoned former slaves and travelers in need. His philosophy was "If you keep your hand closed, nothing good can come in. But the open hand is blessed, for it gives abundantly, even as it receives." Bridge Mason is well known for its work to strengthen the black community. and the first African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in his stay. Bridget "Biddy" Mason was a woman who not only broke the mold of stereotypical women, but shattered them. Eliza Snow was another woman who paved the way for American women today. Eliza encouraged women to start community centers and open shops to sell their homemade products such as milk, butter, yarn and clothes. She is also famous for helping women get into medical schools and under her influence encouraged women to write for local newspapers and later E...... middle of paper ...... Native American Heritage and a speak the Paiute language. Sarah's courage has inspired generations of her people to stand up for their rights and embrace their culture. Without Sarah's constant fight for the rights of her people, the land lost to the Paiutes would never have been returned. Works Cited Bloomer, Dexter C. Life and Writings of Amelia Bloomer. Boston: Pub Arena. Co, 1895. Print.Furbee Rodd, Mary. Scandalous women of the American frontier. New York: J. Wiley, 2002. Print.Riley, Glenda. The life and legacy of Annie Oakley. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994. Print.Iversen, Kristen. Molly Brown: Unraveling the Myth. Big Earth Publishing, 1999. Print. Mclaird, James. Calamity Jane: The Woman and the Legend. Univ of Oklahoma Pr, 2005. Print.Zanjani and Springmeyer. Sarah Winnemucca. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2001. Print.