# What famous woman would you like to see on the $20 bill? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776 "2015-03-23T15:12:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/1 "2015-03-23T15:12:13Z")
There’s a movement brewing to have [the face of a woman on the $20 bill](http://www.womenon20s.org/candidates). The new ‘female’ twenties would commemorate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2020. The link takes you to a site with a list of some possible candidates, with short bios on them. But here’s just the names (you can click the link or check google if you don’t know them): Alice Paul Betty Friedan Shirley Chisholm Sojourner Truth Rachel Carson Rosa Parks Barbara Jordan Margaret Sanger Patsy Mink Clara Barton Harriet Tubman Susan B. Anthony Eleanor Roosevelt Elizabeth Cady Stanton Talking it over during lunch yesterday, a few friends & I came up with some of our own candidates (and yes, some - but not all - were just goofy joke suggestions; I’ll let you decide): Zora Neale Hurston Bessie Smith Billie Holiday Janis Joplin Emily Dickinson Ayn Rand Maya Angelou Angela Davis Bella Abzug Susan Sontag Christine Jorgenson So, who would YOU want to see on the $20? The only stipulations are they have to be U.S. citizens, female (natch) and already deceased (so no votes for Hilary or Sarah Palin.) Discuss! ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/2 "2015-03-23T15:19:12Z")
[Edith Wilson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Wilson) (Failing that, [Maila Nurmi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maila_Nurmi)) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/3 "2015-03-23T15:21:21Z")
I think Alice Paul is a great choice. Anthony’s already been on the silver dollar, so I’d probably exclude her from the running. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/4 "2015-03-23T16:03:44Z")
Following up in the “Sackie golden dollars”, I say stay Native American and put Hyapatia Lee. Then maybe the hard-core Cherokees will start accepting 20s? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/5 "2015-03-23T16:11:43Z")
That lady of the “am I not a woman” speech, lemme look her up… Sojourner Truth. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/6 "2015-03-23T16:15:36Z")
Rosa Parks. If we can’t get MLK, I think it’s high time we had a Civil Rights icon as well as the first woman. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/7 "2015-03-23T16:18:31Z")
Carry Nation. Because there aren’t enough hatchets on our money. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/8 "2015-03-23T16:19:14Z")
D) None of the above? Seriously, I paid attention in history class, and most of the people on that list I couldn’t tell you the first thing about without Googling them. (I’m excluding the joke list.) Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, and Eleanor Roosevelt are the only ones that I could recognize (and really, if we’re being honest, Susan B. Anthony is primarily famous for being on a coin that few people ever wanted or used). Margaret Sanger rings a bell somewhere, but again I’d have to look her up on Wikipedia or something. I’d say Elanor Roosevelt is the one that’s closest to be on part with the presidents. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/9 "2015-03-23T16:27:02Z")
We’re overthinking it. Just slap some lipstick and a bow on Andrew Jackson. Bada bing bada boom. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/10 "2015-03-23T16:29:32Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > [Edith Wilson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Wilson) Good choice, her having been virtual president. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/11 "2015-03-23T16:38:25Z")
Heidi Fleiss, same as in town. _flees_ ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/12 "2015-03-23T16:43:20Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > We’re overthinking it. Just slap some lipstick and a bow on Andrew Jackson. Bada bing bada boom. Andrew Dragson? I support this plan. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/13 "2015-03-23T16:47:53Z")
We need to make sure this $20 bill looks enough like some other denomination that people get confused and get it mixed up with say a five dollar bill or a hundred dollar bill so everybody hates the damn thing. Just like we did the past two times we put women on our currency. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/14 "2015-03-23T16:48:27Z")
I’m happy with Queen Elizabeth staying on it. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/15 "2015-03-23T16:52:44Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > I’m happy with Queen Elizabeth staying on it. House: “You put the Queen on your money, you’re British.” I vote for Marilyn Monroe. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/16 "2015-03-23T16:54:32Z")
Harriet Tubman, I’d say, if it’s going to be a woman. Otherwise Harry Truman or Theodore Roosevelt. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/17 "2015-03-23T16:58:08Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > We need to make sure this $20 bill looks enough like some other denomination that people get confused and get it mixed up with say a five dollar bill or a hundred dollar bill so everybody hates the damn thing. > > Just like we did the past two times we put women on our currency. That’s just an excuse. The real problem was that the US public doesn’t want dollar coins. Notice how Americans didn’t suddenly embrace them when they put presidents on them. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/18 "2015-03-23T17:03:37Z")
Would I _like_ to see? Well, obviously someone who’s pleasant to look at and somewhat popular. My vote would then be Cindy Crawford. Hey, if you’re going to have to depart with your $20 you might as well get _some_ enjoyment out of owning first. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/19 "2015-03-23T17:04:55Z")
I’d say that if Hillary becomes president (and dies at some point) then that would be the obvious choice. I guess you don’t HAVE to be a president (it helps to be dead though) to be on a US bill of one denomination or another, but it seems you either need to be a FF or have worked for the treasury to get on the bill otherwise, right? I don’t see any female treasury secretaries listed [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_female_United_States_Cabinet_Secretaries), but I guess we could pick other cabinet posts? (I know we are thinking outside the box here with the OPs list, and that it’s not a hard and fast rule that you have to be president or TS or a FF to get on a bill, but seems like that’s the general standard) ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776/20 "2015-03-23T17:22:04Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > D) None of the above? > > Seriously, I paid attention in history class, and most of the people on that list I couldn’t tell you the first thing about without Googling them. Be fair, not too many people could tell you much about Andrew Jackson without googling. The stuff most people know are the things he’s _in_famous for - having shot & killed a man in a duel (over a comment about his supposedly loose-morals wife), cronyism, the Trail of Tears. Not the type of stuff we like to revere in our national heritage. And the real point of the idea is to actually raise awareness of women in U.S.history, many of whom - as you yourself make apparent - get shafted in high school texts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-famous-woman-would-you-like-to-see-on-the-20-bill/715776.md?page=2)