Frances Perkins (1880-1965) may have saved countless Americans through Social Security and her fight for Workers' Rights during The Great Depression. Sexism and resistance didn't stop her in her fight for safety nets in a society that prefers the rich over those who exploit those who make their wealth happen.
Frances Perkins was the fourth Secretary of Labor in USA, and served from 1933 to 1945 which is the longest period of time in that position. Also she was the very first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet.
Being a loyal supporter as well as a friend of president Franklin D. Roosevelt she remained in office as long as his presidency was running. Her most notorious impact was her role in developing a policy in social security (1935). Although she, as a woman, was met with a certain distrust by the leaders of labor unions she succeeded in mediating numerous strikes and all kinds of issues. One of them was the changing labor system in WWII when women moved into jobs, formerly held by men.
She met criticism about women "being unwomanly" with a by now famous quote: "Being a woman has only bothered me in climbing trees."
https://francesperkinscenter.org/learn/her-life/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frances-Perkins
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