While we are all still getting used to it being 2016, multiple inspiring women have already begun to make waves in the new year. Here are a few to most closely follow duirng the upcoming twelve months.
1. Hilary Clinton
Even if you’re not a Democrat and hate her policies, Clinton has already begun to make huge waves in 2016, an election year. Her name is on everyone’s lips, and she has a good shot at winning the Democratic nomination, meaning the year could end with her as president elect. Even if none of this pans out, her presence on the national, and world, stage is growing, and this definitely makes her one to watch this year.
2. Rula Ghani
Since her husband, Ashraf Ghani, took office as president of Afghanistan in 2014, Rula Ghani, as the country’s First Lady, has begun to break down barriers against women in the strongly traditional country. As the first visible presidential spouse in decades, Ghani has spoken out about women’s rights and the power of law, something that wouldn’t have been possible only a few years ago. Most recently, Ghani personally announced the opening of Afghanistan’s first women’s college, which will happen sometime in the next year or two in Kabul. In her role as First Lady, she continues to inspire women around the world, and to work to give those in Afghanistan more opportunities.
3. Emma Watson
With her role in the “Harry Potter” series and her multiple movies since, it would be hard not to have heard of Emma Watson. However, it’s her use of her fame for the good of women that puts her on this list. The speech she gave to the UN in 2014 to launch the HeForShe campaign in her role as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador went viral, and inspired men around the world to stand up for women. As a Women’s Goodwill Ambassador, and has given several talks for the HeForShe campaign since then, helping feminism gain ground. She has gained the admiration of the world, and it will be interesting to see where she goes from here.
4. Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria, like Emma Watson, is a celebrity who is using her fame for the common good. Among the causes she supports, she has established the Eva Longoria Foundation, which funds Latina entrepreneurs, and also trains parents on how to be engaged with their child in school and how to help them get into college. The foundation has gone a long way toward raising awareness about Latina issues, such as education, bringing the conversation to the forefront of topics at various conferences. Beyond the Foundation, Longoria also works to support 38 other charities, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, AIDS Life and UNICEF. Her contributions to many different societies are thus numerous.
5. Angela Merkel
The year 2015 was not an easy one for Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany. Last year, she effectively took leadership in the European Union, leading the EU through both the ongoing financial crisis and the Syrian refugee crisis. In Germany, this meant allowing more than one million asylum seekers into the country, a far cry from any other EU member. As such, she has made Germany a beacon of hope for those fleeing the violence in the Middle East, and is redefining the criteria on what to do during a refugee crisis. As the stream of asylum seekers shows no sign of slowing down in 2016, her policies will impact millions, and could change the make up of the EU. Indeed, of everyone on this list, she may be the one to watch the closest of all.