Throughout history, women have changed the world with their strength, resistance, passion, and determination to create a better future. To acknowledge their hard works, it’s important to remember the accomplishments of well-known idols. Here are 5 women from different countries and time periods who championed the fight for equality:
Wangari Maathai
Wangarĩ Muta Maathai was a Kenyan social, environmental, and political activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. Wangari Maathai greatly improved the economic and social status of Kenyan women in rural areas by combining women’s rights and environmentalism. Her work illuminated the connection between poverty, environmental desegregation, and power. By tackling all these issues, her activism gave women the tools to combat all three.
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks will always be remembered for refusing to give up her seat on a racially segregated bus, leading to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. After the boycott successfully helped end segregation in public spaces, Rosa Parks sought to educate the nation’s youth about civil rights. Her multiple awards include the NAACP’s highest honor and the Martin Luther King Jr. Award.
Winona LaDuke
Winona LaDuke is an American economist, environmentalist, writer and industrial hemp grower, known for her work on tribal land claims and preservation, as well as sustainable development. Winona LaDuke founded the White Earth Land Recovery Project in 1989, which has successfully returned over 1,400 acres of land to indigenous communities. She also founded the Indigenous Women’s Network, which aims to empower indigenous women in the United States and aided in the NoDAPL protests.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a Liberian politician who served as the 24th President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018. The former president of Liberia and the first female elected head of state in Africa has made huge strides for her nation. Her pro-women and anti-corruption political stance earned her a Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 and the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership in 2017.
Maria Mutola
On the track, Maria Mutola was a three-time world champion and one-time Olympic champion in the 800 meters running event. Off the track, she founded the Lurdes Mutola Foundation, which encourages children to pursue sports and education. She also helped to create immunization campaigns and housing initiatives.
