By Wendy Gould
“I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want.
If that makes me a bitch, okay,” Madonna, who needs no further introduction was once quoted as saying.
Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth I, Marie Curie, Cleopatra, Coco Chanel, Benazir Bhutto, Aung San Suu Kyi, Mother Teresa, and countless other strong-willed women expressed their strengths in many different variations of how Madonna declared hers.
Some women did not even need to speak to change the world.
Can You Imagine a World Without Women?
Throughout the world’s history, it was us, women who have had to struggle to be respected and to be on equal footing with our male counterparts.
In most parts of the world, women were not born with rights that many of us in many parts of the world enjoy today — the right to vote, the right to education, the right to praise, hope and love, the right to seek justice, among many other things.
Even decades after the United Nations has promulgated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, more work needs to be done to advance the interests of women.
Nevertheless, there have been countless women in history who have faced extraordinary feats and who found non-traditional ways of unearthing societal plagues and created solutions that changed the world forever.
Here are just some of the most influential women in the history of the world:
1. Queen Elizabeth I.
Queen Elizabeth I – Image/Shutterstock
She is responsible for molding England into the mighty nation it is today.
In her 44 years of rule, one of her greatest achievements was in bringing down the once indestructible Spanish Armada.
2. Marie Curie
Marie Curie – Image/Shutterstock
She was awarded the Nobel Prize two times, once in Physics and later on in Chemistry.
She is best known for her work on radioactivity, the prerequisite knowledge for what would later be developed as X-rays, one of the most useful devices in medical practice.
3. Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel – Image/Shutterstock
The Parisian fashion icon is credited for her ‘democratizing’ work on women’s clothing.
She created women’s trousers and made women’s dresses out of jerseys.
These creations finally freed women from the uncomfortable corset.
As such, they were able to breathe and move better to pursue their goals and even challenge men.
She summarizes for us, all the tools in a woman’s command: “Adornment, what a science! Beauty, what a weapon!
Modesty, what elegance!”
4. Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa – Image/Shutterstock
Canonized as a Saint late in 2016, her humility and able care for the poor and the needy demonstrated the strength of women in many ways than one.
She founded the Missionaries for Charity, inspiring the world to give both resources and devote time to personally share what they have to others who have little.
She highlighted the crucial role of women in society when she said, “The woman is at the heart of the home.”
5. Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher – Image/Shutterstock
The first woman Prime Minister of England stayed in power for 11 years.
She is loved by many and hated by more.
It is her decisive, uncompromising stance on difficult issues such as the Cold War, democracy, abolition of unions, to name a few, for which she later came to be known as ‘The Iron Lady’.
She once said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman”.
6. Madonna
Madonna – Image/Shutterstock
The stage name she has chosen alone is an aberration of the traditional perception of women, that is, meek and conservative.
Her life is a living testament to the history of feminism itself.
Her music speaks of self-expression, openness, and freely exploring female sexuality.
Her songs also open fire on racism, societal double standards against women, even the teachings of the Catholic Church.
7. Christiane Amanpour
Christiane Amanpour – Image/Shutterstock
“They always call me fearless and I’ve always felt embarrassed because nobody is really fearless, it’s about how you manage fear,” she would go on to say on a video featuring her on makers.com.
She was raised a Catholic while growing up in Tehran, Iran.
She put war and conflict on the news, beginning with Iran then, later on, Bosnia, Somalia, Afghanistan, and all the other troubled regions of the world.
She put the spotlight on the real casualties of war — women, and children among them.
FAQ’s:
Que: What happened on March 8 women’s Day?
Ans: On March 8 a group of women in Russia began a four-day strike demanding peace, bread and the right to vote.
Que: What is the purpose of International women’s day?
Ans: International Women’s Day is a day to acknowledge and honor women around the world for the contributions we make each day to society.
Conclusion
Clearly, women have made unparalleled contributions in all aspects that affect the lives of both men and women throughout the world.
On Women’s Day, let us celebrate the life, light, wisdom, love, and hope that the mere humbling presence of a woman brings.
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