It's March, that month before April's showers and the journey to May's flowers truly begins, and it's time to celebrate women. March is Women's History Month, which means that each day (all 31 of them) embodies all the accomplishments of great women throughout history. Some people don't realize the amount of achievements women have had in this patriarchal society, fighting for fundamental rights and voices to be listened to. Each woman stems from a different background, culture, story, and represent hope, but they each matter.
So for the 31 days of March, I present 31 women, from all time periods and all places in the world (in alphabetical order):
1. Maya Angelou
She was a poet, a teacher, an author and a civil rights activist. Inspiring infinite people with her words and made impactful change by working with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Benazir Bhutto
Pakistan's first and only female prime minister and the first woman to be elected as an Islamic state's head of government.
3. Vera Brittain
The author of the 'Testament of Youth', she was a pacifist after working as a nurse in WW1 and a feminist.
4. Carrie Brownstein
Known for her roles on " Portlandia," Brownstein is a musician, writer, actress and comedian. She is in the band Sleater-Kinney and has just released a memoir titled, "Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl."
5. Caryl Churchill
British playwright famous for her sexual politics and feminist themes. In 2010, she was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
6. Sandra Cisneros
Mexican-American writer most known for her book, "The House on Mango Street." She is the first Mexican-American woman to have her work published by a mainstream company.
7. Claudette Colvin
She worked in the African-American Civil Rights Movement and was the first person to be arrested for resisting bus segregation. After being a plaintiff on Browder v. Gayle, she moved to New York and worked as a nurse.
8. Anna Julia Cooper
She was the fourth African-American women to earn a doctoral degree and worked as an author, educator and speaker. She wrote "A Voice from the South: By a Woman from the South," and made numerous speeches concerning women's rights and civil rights.
9. Marie Curie
Conducted research on radioactivity and was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize - and is the only woman to win a Nobel Prize twice.
10. Margaret Fuller
Her book, Woman in the Nineteenth Century is considered the first major feminist work in the US.
11. Indira Gandhi
The first and only female Prime Minister of India, her work for peace between India and Pakistan led to the creation of Bangladesh.
12. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The second female justice to serve on the US Supreme Court and is still doing so today.
13. Kathleen Hanna
Punk rocker and known feminist, Hanna is known for the creation of the 'riot grrrl' feminist movement, and has even been credited with helping launch 'third-wave feminism'.
14. Billie Holiday
One of the most famous jazz singers, she pioneered new ways of manipulating phrasing and tempo in music.
15. Anita Hill
An American attorney and academic who became a public figure when she accused Clarence Thomas, a US Supreme Court nominee, of workplace sexual harassment. By speaking out, her actions have launched modern-day public awareness and open discussion of the issue of workplace sexual harassment in the United States.
16. Grace Jones
Jamaican singer, lyricist, supermodel, record producer and actress. She has been on the covers of magazines such as Vogue and Elle.
17. Frida Kahlo
A famous Mexican painter who is celebrated by many feminists for her honest depiction of the female body.
18. Helen Keller
Keller was the first deafblind person to receive a Bachelor degree of the arts and was a political activist, speaking out and advocating for people with disabilities.
19. Michelle Obama
First Lady to the 44th President of the United States and graduate of Princeton University and Havard Law. As First Lady, she has worked towards decreasing childhood obesity with her Let's Move! campaign and has also been a longtime supporter of equal rights for the LGBTQ community.
20. Sandra Day O'Connor
The first female Justice of the United States Supreme Court and has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
21. Georgia O'Keefe
A famous American artist who is recognized as the "Mother of American Modernism" in art.
22. Elanor Roosevelt
First Lady to the 32nd President of the US and served as US Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. She was a strong supporter of the African-American Civil Rights Movement and is known for much of her social activism.
23. Sacagawea
As a young pregnant woman, Sacagawea played a pivotal role in helping Lewis and Clark's expedition in the West.
24. Coretta Scott King
Helped lead the African-American Civil Rights Movement, she also protested against apartheid, advocated world peace and urged the government to include gay and lesbians to be in the Civil Rights Act.
25. Zadie Smith
The writer of "White Teeth", professor at NYU and winner of the 'Orange Prize of Fiction' and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award.
26. Gloria Steinem
Recognized leader and spokesperson of the 1960s feminist movement. She is for abortion rights, against female genital mutilation and male circumcision and supports same-sex marriage.
27. Harriet Beecher Stowe
An American abolitionist and author, known for her novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin."
28. Margaret Thatcher
The first female Prime Minister of the UK and is one of the longest serving Prime Ministers of the UK of the 20th century.
29. Oprah Winfrey
American talk-show host, producer, actress and philanthropist. She has built an all-girls school in South Africa and has an organization known as Oprah's Angel Network, in which she raises money to give grants to organizations in underserved communities.
30. Mary Wollstonecraft
English writer, philosopher and advocate for women's rights. She is known for her work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman."
31. Malala Yousafzai
A Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
Bonus Lady
32. You
There are so many women that have accomplished so many things, and this list doesn't even begin to cover the tip of the metaphoric iceberg of progressive and forward thinking ladies. There is nothing stopping you from not being a part of this list and making a positive impact on this Earth. Who knows what you can achieve unless you finally trust yourself enough to run out and make the world your own.
