Origins
Archive
Origins No. 007 / Adventure
Big Wave Surfing
The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, surfing's most prestigious contest, was founded in 1984 and stayed all-male for its entire history. Women didn't compete in a completed event until 2023, 39 years later.
Origins No. 006 / Space
Astronauts
NASA selected its first astronaut class, the Mercury Seven, in 1959, open only to graduates of military jet test pilot school. Women weren't allowed to become military test pilots at all, so NASA didn't open the astronaut corps to them until 1978, nineteen years later.
Origins No. 005 / Sports
Rugby Sevens
Ned Haig invented rugby sevens in 1883 as a fundraiser for his cash-strapped rugby club. The first women's international sevens tournament didn't happen until 1997, 114 years later.
Origins No. 004 / Civic
Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court was created in 1789. Sandra Day O'Connor became the first woman to serve as a justice with her 1981 confirmation, 192 years later.
Origins No. 003 / Science
Patents
The 1790 U.S. Patent Act never mentioned gender, on paper it was already equal. Coverture undermined that in practice until states began restoring married women's property rights in 1848, fifty-eight years later.
Origins No. 002 / Money
Credit Cards
Diners Club launched the first universal credit card in 1950. Women couldn't get one without a male cosigner until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act passed in 1974, twenty-four years later.
Origins No. 001 / Sports
Ski Jumping
Ski jumping debuted at the 1924 Olympics, men only. The first women's Olympic event didn't arrive until 2014, ninety years later.