If we look back, it’s easy to see that there has never been a better time to be a woman. As a generation, we’ve been born with rights women in history have dedicated their lives to attain: the right to vote, to own property, to an education, to a career—the list goes on.
But let’s not sit back and settle, there’s still a long way to go. Living in a country dedicated to equality makes it easy to forget that, around the world, startling numbers of women are still suppressed—facing injustice and abuse in their daily lives. We’ve come a long way, yes, but the journey to gender equality is by no means over. The stories of historical women are relatable, with lessons applicable to our lives as women today—so let’s check out at a few.
1. Millicent Fawcett (1897)
In 1866, Millicent Fawcett led the National Union of Women’s Suffrage (NUWSS). In 1918, through her efforts, 6 million women aged over thirty won the right to vote. She was only twenty-two when she identified as a suffragist.
Lesson: We can make a change at any point in our lives.
2. Marie Curie (1903)
Although gifted academically, Marie Curie was denied the right to attend university because she was a woman. Did she give up her studies? Of course not. She studied in secret in Poland and Paris, earning degrees in Maths and Physics. She coined the term radioactivity and was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics.
Lesson: Going against societal expectations to pursue your passion may be the sweetest form of empowerment.
3. Betty Friedan (1963)
In the 1950’s, women passionately pursued a life confined to the domestic sphere. As a wife and mother, Betty Friedan felt the pressures and questioned them in The Feminine Mystique. Unafraid to interrogate gender roles, Friedan brought the topic of women’s rights into millions of homes.
Lesson: Do not conform without consent, always question external pressures.
4. Gloria Steinem (1970)
By co-creating Ms. Magazine, a platform for women’s voices, Gloria Steinem united the women’s movement. Uniting women was a powerful tool for her, and her conference in the UK produced four key demands: equal pay, equal education, job opportunity, and the right to contraception.
Lesson: By banning together as women, our voices will carry.
5. Emma Watson (2014)
Using her celebrity status to effect global politics, Emma Watson started the HeforShe campaign. By encouraging men to join in on the conversation, she hopes to mobilize a previously ignored demographic for the fight for gender equality.
Lesson: Feminism is not man-hating.
Take note of the lessons from these influential women, collegiettes! You’ll never know when you’ll need to pull a great source of inspiration out of your pocket.