As Kofi Annan once said, “When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.” In honour of International Women’s Day, and of every woman who has thrived and continues to do so, here are 10 inspiring women of the last 100 years — one for every decade since International Women’s Day began. Each of these women navigated uncharted territory, broke through glass ceilings, and showed the rest of us what’s possible.
A quick note before we start: narrowing 100+ years of remarkable women down to just 10 was never going to be easy. So many women deserve a place on this list, and the ones below simply reflect our own picks. If you think someone’s missing, tell us in the comments — who knows, maybe we’ll come back and make this 100 inspiring women one day!
1. 1920s: Coco Chanel
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“Fashion fades, only style remains the same.”***
Born in 1883, French fashion designer Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel opened what’s considered an early version of the modern fashion boutique in 1921. By 1927 she owned five properties on the same Paris street, and the House of Chanel was born.
For beautiful clothes, iconic handbags and Chanel No. 5, we salute you.
2. 1930s: Amelia Earhart
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“Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn’t be done.”***
Born in 1897, Amelia Earhart was an American aviation pioneer and author. In 1932 she became the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic. She disappeared in 1937 while attempting to fly around the globe.
For flying in the face of the naysayers, Amelia Earhart, we salute you.
3. 1940s: Mother Teresa
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
Born in 1910 in what is now North Macedonia, Mother Teresa was a Roman Catholic nun who spent most of her life in India. She began her missionary work in 1946 and went on to found the Missionaries of Charity, which ran hospices, soup kitchens, mobile clinics, orphanages and schools across more than 100 countries. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was beatified in 2003.
For inspiring selflessness and everyday acts of kindness, we salute you.
Photo credit: “ceci n’est pas une photo” via photopin (license)
4. 1950s: Rosa Parks
“I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free… so other people would be also free.”
Born in 1913, Rosa Parks became known as the “first lady of civil rights” when, in 1955, she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., and became a landmark moment in the civil rights movement.
For wanting to be free, and for standing up to the system, we salute you.
Photo credit: “RosaParks.YouthRally.ARChapel.HU.WDC.5December1998” via photopin (license)
5. 1960s: Valentina Tereshkova
“If women can be railroad workers in Russia, why can’t they fly in space?”
Born in 1937, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to fly in space on 16 June 1963, orbiting the Earth 48 times over three days. Photos she took of the horizon were later used to help identify aerosol layers in the atmosphere. It would be 19 more years before another woman flew in space.
In 1969 she became active in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and went on to play a key role in shaping the global agenda for women’s peace initiatives, receiving both the Hero of the Soviet Union medal and the United Nations Gold Medal of Peace.
For going where no woman had gone before, we salute you.
Photo credit: “Valentina Tereshkova” via photopin (license)
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6. 1970s: Gloria Steinem
“Law and justice are not always the same.”
Born in 1934, Gloria Steinem is an American feminist, journalist and social and political activist who became a leading voice of the feminist movement in the late 1960s and 1970s. She co-founded Ms. magazine, whose first 300,000 test copies sold out nationwide in just eight days. In 2005 she co-founded the Women’s Media Center, which works to make women more visible and powerful in the media.
For not being afraid to write and fight for women’s rights, we salute you.
Photo credit: “20111220 BETTY-83” via photopin (license)
7. 1980s: Anita Roddick
“If you do things well, do them better. Be daring, be first, be different, be just.”
Anita Roddick founded The Body Shop in 1976, taking it public in 1984. The Body Shop was a pioneer of ethical consumerism — one of the first companies to ban ingredients tested on animals and to actively promote fair trade with developing countries. Roddick was also a human rights activist and environmentalist, and in 1990 she founded the charity Children on the Edge, supporting disadvantaged children across Asia and Eastern Europe.
For questioning the status quo and building a successful, ethical business, we salute you.
Photo credit: “_MG_0612” via photopin (license)
8. 1990s: Ann Bancroft
“For me exploration is about that journey to the interior, into your own heart. I am always wondering how will I act at my moment of truth? Will I rise up and do what’s right, even if every fibre of my being is telling me otherwise.”
Born in 1955, Ann Bancroft is an American author, teacher and pioneering explorer. In 1986 she became the first woman to reach the North Pole on foot and by sled, and later became the first woman to cross both polar ice caps and to ski across Greenland. In 1993 she led the first all-female expedition to cross the ice to the South Pole.
For not letting extreme conditions stand in the way of her mission, we salute you.
9. 2000s: Ellen MacArthur
“Courage is not having the energy to go on, it’s going on when you don’t have the energy… and that’s true.”
In 2005, yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur broke the record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe — not just among women, but outright. In 2010 she founded the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, focused on building a more sustainable, circular economy.
For having the courage to go on, and for showing what’s possible, we salute you.
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10. 2010s: Kathryn Bigelow
“The journey for women, no matter what venue it is — politics, business, film — it’s a long journey.”
Born in 1951, Kathryn Bigelow is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. In 2010 she made Oscar history as the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director, for The Hurt Locker. She was also the first woman to win the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing.
For believing in herself, and for showing that great filmmaking has no gender, we salute you.
Photo credit: “Kathryn Bigelow by David Shankbone 2010” via photopin (license)
About International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day has been marked since the early 1900s, a period of huge social change and expanding rights movements across the industrialised world. It’s a day to celebrate women’s achievements and to call for greater equality — a purpose that hasn’t dated a bit.
Every year, International Women’s Day carries its own theme, but the goals behind it stay consistent: more women in science, engineering and technology; fairer recognition of women in sport; greater awareness of equality; more women in senior leadership; equal recognition in the arts; growth in women-owned businesses; and greater financial independence for women everywhere.
So — who else belongs on this list? Let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
Why do we celebrate International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day exists to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and to call attention to the work still needed to reach full equality. It’s marked every year and has grown from its early-1900s roots into a global day of recognition and action.
Why were these particular women chosen for this list?
This list picks one standout woman per decade over the last 100 years, chosen for the way she broke new ground in her field — from fashion and aviation to civil rights, space travel, business, exploration, sport and film. It reflects one set of choices among many; there are countless other inspiring women worth celebrating.
Can I use this list for a school project or classroom discussion?
Yes — the list works well as a starting point for talking to kids about trailblazing women in history. Encourage children to research each woman further, and to think about who else might belong on an updated list.
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