And stories of Women's contributions to society--be they in science, business or politics--are often overlooked. But a new exhibit in San Francisco is aiming to ensure the accomplishments of Chinese American women in California are respected. CGTN's Mark Niu has the details.

At the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum, women's contributions are not forgotten in the exhibit 'Towards Equality.' When asked if she's ever seen another exhibit solely dedicated to Chinese American women, museum executive director Jane Chin says she does recall one back in the 80's.

JANE CHIN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY "There's a Chinese proverb that women hold up half the sky and I clearly believe that."

MARK NIU SAN FRANCISCO "The exhibit here even recognizes the very first American born Chinese woman in San Francisco - Chew Fong Law in 1869. It also recognizes the struggles that followed, including in 1884 when Mary Tape - a Chinese immigrant sued the San Francisco Board of Education for refusing to enroll her daughter in school. The California Supreme Court ruled in Mary's favor, saying denying her daughter access would be unconstitutional."

"My 'popo' grandmother, I burn incense and make offerings. I write this poem for all to know your life, your work."

Kitty Tsui's grandmother - Kwan Ying Li - a famous Cantonese Opera Singer who toured throughout North America and the world -- is being featured at the exhibit.

Kitty: "This is a playbill from the 1920s that was in the archives of the Chinese Historical Society that they found."

Mark: "Did you know about it?"

Kitty: "I did not. It was a huge surprise when I came to the exhibit. And this is a picture of her at age 77 in 1977. And there's me in 1977."

Kitty - an activist and author of the book, 'The Words of a Woman Who Breathes Fire' - is also featured in the exhibit. 

KITTY TSUI WRITER "This is such an important exhibit because we as women and as Chinese American women, we are often erased, we're often the victims of stereotypes."

"I was astounded that they were outnumbered by a ratio of 10 to 1, and what tough, resilient individuals they must have been to come here and to thrive."

Generations that followed would certainly thrive such as Margaret Gee, who during World War II went from being a welder to a pilot and later became a physicist.

Pioneers like Gee paved the way for others to break barriers in the world of science and technology --- like Fei-Fei Li, the former head of Artificial Intelligence at Google and now Stanford University AI department head.

Philanthropists are honored too - like Betty Chinn a China native who earned the Presidential Citizen's Award for her tireless work cooking meals and delivering them to the homeless nearly every single day.

"I'm impressed with what women were able to accomplish. Being put down, the activism still came through. And they were able to advance their cause."

Causes taken on so that future generations will have more opportunities to both succeed and take up causes of their own. Mark Niu, CGTN, San Francisco.