In honor of Women’s History month, here is a curated list of female activists who determinedly worked to make a difference in the world.
Malala Yousafzai (1997)
Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai staunchly opposes the Taliban’s limitations or outright bans on women’s education. Yousafzai’s father sparked his daughter’s love of knowledge, which fueled her activism. When she was 11, she wrote an anonymous blog about her life under Taliban rule, which risked possible execution if she were to be found out. Later in her life, Yousafzai stepped out of her anonymity for a New York Times documentary, which led her to become a known advocate for women’s education. When she was 15, Yousafzai was shot in the face due to an order by the Taliban. Her story received worldwide coverage and she later won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her dedication.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (1989)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) was working in a taqueria as a bartender, when she thought to do the impossible. Because she planned to challenge ten-term incumbent Congressman Joseph Crowley in the New York Congressional primaries. With only a miniscule amount of financing for her campaign, AOC’s chances of winning the election relied solely on grassroots support via determined volunteers. However, AOC won, shocking political pundits across the nation. AOC’s win made headlines, mainly due to her progressive stances as a Democratic-Socialist. Due to her campaign pledge to reject all corporate donations, she has gained a mass following. Throughout her tenure in Congress that began in 2019, she has consistently defied the establishment and promised to solely serve the working class of America.
Dolores Huerta (1930)
When Dolores Huerta was young, she witnessed her father’s experience with the power unions have on uplifting migrant workers. In 1962, she collaborated with Cesar Chavez to develop the National Farm Workers Association, an organization that worked to better the conditions for migrants who work on farms. Huerta was one of few women in the field of labor organizing, which made her experience significantly more difficult in comparison to her male counterparts. Not only did she face racism from farm owners, but even her fellow organizers were misogynistic to her even as they collaborated together. Later in life, Huerta met with prominent feminist Gloria Steinem to form the National Organization of Women Now. One of Huerta’s most recognizable influences is the protest chant she developed herself “Si se puede,” which represents perseverance against all odds.
Greta Thunberg (2003)
This 2019 Time’s Person of the Year, Greta Tintin Elonara Thunberg, is a Swedish activist and an avid environmentalist. Thunberg began her advocacy protesting outside of the Swedish parliament, while she spoke out against their inaction on climate change. Images of Thunberg’s demonstrations outside of Parliament then went viral and she became a sensation. After that, others followed suit and through her influence, she organized a string of protests. They were called the “School Strike for Climate” or the “Fridays For Future” demonstrations, which were led by the youth and encouraged others to skip school to call upon the government to properly address climate change. During the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit, she gave a speech that condemned many world leaders for not responding to climate change properly.
Michelle Obama (1964)
It was 2006 on a winter morning, when Michelle LeVaughn Robinson Obama and President Barack Obama discussed a life-changing decision, whether he would run for President. Eventually Barack Obama was elected and Michelle Obama became the first Black woman to be the first lady of the United States. During her tenure in this unofficial, yet influential role she started multiple humanitarian organizations. Her main focus during the Obama administration was the Let’s Move charity, which focused on encouraging a healthier lifestyle for children to combat childhood obesity. As the first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama’s image was hyperfocused on by the media and often scrutinized. However, she was able to move past this and uplift the African-American community by averting the stereotypes that belittled them.
