March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration of women’s contributions in all different fields. The holiday was initially introduced by President Jimmy Carter and celebrated the week of March 2 to the 8. Later in 1987, it was expanded to the whole month of March. 

This month is a time to recognize the many influential women that have been, and continue to shape politics, science, art, culture and activism. Here’s a list of only some of  the many powerful women who have had a significant global impact in the 21st century:

1. Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist, who continues to fight for educational rights and gender equality. In 2012, Malala was shot in the left side of her head by a member of the Taliban at only fifteen years old. The reason: she publicly proclaimed that girls’ had a  right to learn. Miraculously, she was able to survive and began to globally advocate for equal opportunities for schooling, no matter the gender. At seventeen, she became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Malala has created the Malala Fund, which supports girls’ education worldwide, especially in developing countries. She also works with United Nations Girls’ Education Initiatives (UNGEI) to promote that all girls receive twelve years of free, safe education. 

“I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is the story of many girls.”

2. Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel is the former Chancellor of Germany, and was in office from 2005 to 2021. She is the first and only woman to have held this position and is the second-longest serving chancellor in Germany’s history. She guided Germany through the 2008 financial crisis, strengthened Germany’s leadership within the European Union and opened their borders to over one million refugees. Merkel formed close international relationships with many world leaders, one of them being former president Barack Obama. In addition to her achievements as a chancellor she was also the first woman to lead the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000 to 2018. In December of 2015, Merkel was awarded “Person of the Year” by Time Magazine.

“For those who, for whatever reason, are anxious about the world, who fear the future: We must make this time of change our time, and shape the future.”

3. Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier

Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier are biochemists and the pioneers of the revolutionary concept of gene-editing. Together, they developed CRISPR-Cas9, an extremely advanced gene-editing technology. CRISPR-Cas9 is often compared to “genetic scissors” that scientists can use to meticulously cut and edit genes. Their creation could cure genetic disease, improve agriculture and fight viruses. 

In 2020, they won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This win was historic because they were the first two women to win the Nobel prize without a male co-recipient. Charpentier became the first woman to receive the Nobel prize in Chemistry as the sole laureate from her institution (meaning the only person to win from her university to win a Nobel prize in a given category). 

“It’s a revolution that will change our world in ways we can’t even imagine.” -Doudna

“Women need to be more confident in their own ability and dare to push the boundaries.” -Charpentier

4. Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg is a famous Swedish climate activist, who has empowered youth worldwide to take up the fight against climate change. She has led global climate strikes and challenged world leaders on environmental policies. When she was fifteen, she started protesting outside the Swedish Parliament on Friday’s which quickly became known as “Fridays for Future.” Soon after, Greta quickly became the face for the teen movement against climate change. One of her most infamous moments is when she gave her passionate speech at the U.N. Climate Action Summit. Her speech shined the spotlight on the  climate movement putting more pressure on officials to change policies and evoking emotion from people all over the world. With her speech, she enlightened almost the entire world up to the dire situation of climate change. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2019 and 2020 and also won Time Magazine person of the year in 2019. 

“I have learned that you are never too small to make a difference.”

5. Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Ruth Bader Ginsberg A.KA “R.B.G” served as a Supreme Court Justice from 1933 to her death in 2020. She was a pioneer for women’s rights and a legal powerhouse.  Ginsberg graduated at the top of her class at Cornell University in 1954 then, after she had her first child, she began schooling at Harvard Law in 1956. At Harvard she was one of nine females in a class of five-hundred. Ginsberg also co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU (American Civil Rights Union) in 1971, and became the first woman hired to receive a tenure at the Columbia Law School in 1972. She was the second woman, and the first  Jewish woman, to become a Justice. During her long career as a Supreme Justice, her hard work led to major reforms for gender equality and united the liberal section of the court. 

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

6. Serena Williams

Serena Williams is a household name, a legend in the tennis world for her twenty-three Grand Slam singles titles. A Grand Slam is when a tennis player wins four major tournaments: Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. She also holds fourteen Grand Slam doubles titles and four Olympic gold medals. It is an understatement to say that she is a decorated athlete. In July of 2002, she was ranked number one in the world and held that position for fifty-seven weeks.  Williams revolutionized the sport of tennis with her power, athleticism and tenacity. Outside of tennis, she is a part of the UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador, opened two secondary schools in Kenya and sits on the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative. She continues to advocate for gender equality and racial justice highlighting her commitment to not only tennis, but a more inclusive world. ​​

“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.”

7. Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is a talk show host, actress, producer, philanthropist, and an icon in the media industry. Her popular talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, ran for twenty-five years, produced 4,561 episodes and concluded in May 2011. Through her diverse set of careers Oprah was able to inspire millions of people and spoke about education, mental health and social justice. She is the first black female billionaire, founded the OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) and made major donations to leadership and education programs. 

“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.”  

8. Tawakkol Karman

Tawakkol Karman is known as the “Mother of the Revolution.” She is a Yemeni journalist, politician and human rights’ activist. Karman is known for her leadership in pro-democracy movements and women’s rights advocacy in the Arab world. She played a key role in Yemen’s Arab Springs protests – a series of protests that rapidly spread across the Arab world in the 2010’s – and became the first Arab woman ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. Karman also founded Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) which advocates for press freedom and human rights in Yemen. 

“The solution to women’s issues can only come from women themselves.”

9. Beyoncé

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is a Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, businesswomen and cultural icon. She has won thirty-five Grammy’s and received ninety-nine nominations making her the artist with the most wins and nominations. Beyoncé is also the first black woman ever to debut with a number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 for country music. She co-founded Ivy Park, a successful clothing brand, and in 2016, she was Time Magazine’s Person of the Year Runner-Up. Beyoncé advocates for gender equality, social change and founded a public charity foundation called BeyGood, she has continued her philanthropy, announcing a two-point-five-million-dollar fund to directly support the individuals and families who have lost their homes due to the LA fires. 

“Don’t try to lessen yourself for the world; let the world catch up to you.”

10. Simone Biles

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history with thirty (twenty-three of them gold) World Championship medals and eleven Olympic medals (seven of them gold). Her unmatched skill, athleticism and resilience have revolutionized gymnastics and made her a household name. Biles also has four gymnastics moves named after her,  all extremely difficult, but she  continues to complete with ease. In addition to her strength in gymnastics, she is also a key voice for mental health awareness and sexual abuse survivors. At the Tokyo Olympics, Biles withdrew from the competition to prioritize her mental health, sparking a global discussion about athletes and their mental health. In 2021, she testified against former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar displaying her courage, bravery and also advocating for others who have also been sexually assaulted. Currently, she is part of the Power of She Collective, sponsored by Athleta with the purpose of inspiring women all across the world. 

“I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all.”

All of these women have made and continue to make their mark in history. Their strength represents women all over the globe who work every single day to make the world a better place, provide for others and be the change they wish to see. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us not only honor their contributions, but also commit to supporting and uplifting the women of today who are going to continue to shape the future.