The Most Important Feminists of All Time
From ancient rulers and authors to pop stars and the teenagers of today, we've narrowed down a list of some of the greatest women in history.
From ancient rulers and authors to pop stars and the teenagers of today, we've narrowed down a list of some of the greatest women in history.
Queen Elizabeth I
Great Britain has seen their fair share of female monarchs: Queen Victoria, and the current queen, Elizabeth II, but the first was the "virgin queen" Elizabeth I. She ruled at a pivotal time in English history when she led England to victory against the Spanish Armada. She never married, which in her day and age, was pretty badass.
Mary Wollstonecraft
Mary Wollstonecraft was an early supporter of women's rights with her work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. She argued that women only appeared intellectually inferior to men at the time because they lacked access to education (duh). Don't confuse her with daughter Mary Shelley; whose is famous for an entirely different written work (ahem, Frankenstein).
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was instrumental in getting some serious momentum going for the women's rights movement back in 1848, as a planner of the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Her work, the Declaration of Sentiments, was an "updated" version of the Declaration of Independence that demanded equal treatment for women.
Susan B. Anthony
One of the most influential figures in the women's rights movement in the United States was Susan B. Anthony. A founder of the National Women's Suffrage Association, she published a weekly journal, The Revolution, that advocated for equal rights for both women and African Americans. Her work didn't stop at the written word: She toured around the nation promoting equal rights.
Emmeline Pankhurst
English suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst had some intense tactics to insure that the vote for women was granted, including hunger strikes, chaining herself to rails and even violence. While her methods were controversial, no one can argue that she had a tremendous impact on the women's suffrage movement. Sadly, she died just three weeks before the vote was given to British women over the age of 21.
Coco Chanel
Prior to Coco Chanel's foray into fashion, women's clothes were much more restrictive and uncomfortable. Chanel's simple and casual designs changed that. Beyond transforming the culture of clothing for women forever, she was a savvy business woman who established a fashion house that still dominates the world of couture today.
Betty Friedan
A disgruntled and unhappy housewife, Betty Friedan took to writing to express her displeasure about the status of women at the time, and thus, The Feminist Mystique was born. Her work to improve the lives of women didn't stop there. Friedan was the first President of NOW, the National Organization for Women, and went on to publish six more books. She was also an avid supporter of the failed Equal Rights Amendment.
Benazir Bhutto
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was the first woman to be elected to such a position in a Muslim country. Her impact while in office was huge: She changed the country's political landscape from dictatorship to democracy, as well as tirelessly advocating for social change.
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton's political career may have started off as First Lady to her husband, President Clinton, but that was just beginning. Since he left office, she's served as a New York Senator, Secretary of State, as well as gotten the closest a woman ever has to securing a presidential nomination. And we're crossing our fingers for 2016...
Tegla Laroupe
Kenyan runner Tegla Laroupe has many claims to fame: She was the first African American woman to win the New York Marathon, she previously held the marathon record time for a woman (under three hours), as well as several world championships. She's used her fame for good by promoting peace and women's rights through the Tegla Laroupe Peace Foundation.
Oprah Winfrey
Is there anything Oprah can't do? Talk show host, magazine editor, leader of the world's largest book club, network TV owner—not to mention her tendency to give away tokens of appreciation like (free!) cars. Without a doubt, she's one of the world's most influential figures, male or female.
Malala Yousafzai
She may be young, but Malala Yousafzai has already become a household name. The Pakistani teen stood up to the Taliban by writing a blog for the BBC (starting when she was just 11-years-old!) about conditions under their rule. The Taliban retaliated with an ambush shooting. Thankfully, Yousafzai survived and continues to fight for education for girls.
