Ruth Bader Ginsburg
RBG was iconoclastic. When RBG was growing up, women were expected to follow the same trajectory: get married, start a family, take care of the house. But RBG was determined and tenacious. She attended Harvard and was one of nine women in a class of 552 men. Although she presented her cases in front of a panel of all men, RBG won five of her six Supreme Court cases. RBG’s determination epitomizes how our culture values the little man standing up to the big man. RBG remained resilient in the face of adversity. RBG broke down barriers, showing how women had the ability to succeed in a male-dominated field.
Simone de Beauvoir
Simone de Beauvoir was one of the founders of modern feminism. In 1949, she wrote a book titled, The Second Sex, which critiques the patriarchy and social structures targeting women. This book created many of the foundations upon which modern feminism is based, and challenged the male-centric society that was commonplace in her time.
Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem led the women’s liberation movement in the 60’s and 70’s, and was later awarded the presidential medal of honor. She founded the feminist magazine Ms. Magazine and other female-power groups, including Women's Action Alliance, National Women's Political Caucus, Women's Media Center, all which changed the face of feminism and advanced women's rights.
Bell Hooks
Bell Hooks was an author who wrote about the intersection between Black women and feminism. She paved the path for Black women to get involved in feminism, when historically there was racism barring them from being part of the feminist movement. She also wrote a book called the Feminist Theory, in which she expands on the meaning and goals of feminism.
Maya Angelou
Through her literature, Angelou advocated for both civil rights and for women to overcome exploitation and advocate for equality. She brought to light many of the hardships facing Black women. In her piece, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, she brought to light her experience with s*xual assault and inspired many Black women to speak out about their experiences. She also wrote to encourage women to have confidence in themselves. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her books and achievements.
Alice Walker
Alice Walker was an advocate for women's rights, specifically that of Black women. She was involved in the Civil Rights movement along with Martin Luther King Jr. before joining Gloria Steinem at Ms. Magazine. She wrote about the female experience, and was a "Womanist," who celebrated women's culture and femininity. She also founded a feminist publishing company and wrote about Black women and their place in feminism.
Oprah Winfrey
Although Oprah didn't see herself as a feminist, she realized that simply because she was advocating for herself, she was a feminist. She created a career for herself as a newswoman and then had her own show, which was extremely successful. She now funds several organizations dedicated to helping women boost their confidence and give women a better quality of life. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
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