15 Women Who Are Making A Positive Difference in This Difficult World

“Girls can’t do what?” This question instantly pumps you up with pride as women have proven themselves competent in every field of work. Even when there are derogatory terms lingering in the air like “act like a girl” or “laugh like a girl”, there are women around the world who have stopped at nothing and pushed the barriers so far that their deeds have changed the very perspective of what women can do.
The world has slowly started evolving towards gender equality, but there is still a long way to go to achieve complete freedom. So here is a list of women from different backgrounds, age groups, and countries who have contributed enormously to changing the modern world one day at a time. Not only are they inspiring women and men alike around the world, but they can also be treated as examples of the acceleration of an equal world.

1. Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle has been winning hearts since she was just a schoolgirl. Even though she is famous for being a member of the Royal family now, her letter to an ad company for calling out inappropriate advertising by Procter & Gamble left the company moved. She has also inspired millions of girls worldwide to be a princess and continues to advocate for causes they believe in without any fear. She has showcased unbreakable strength as she transitioned from being an actor to being accepted into the royal family. The paparazzi and many people tore her apart by criticizing her background and beliefs. However, both Prince Harry and she managed to uphold their respect and now we see a strong royal who is loved by many around the world.

2. Marie Kondo

Tidying up with Marie Kondo is a Netflix sensation that has gone viral. Her ways of encouraging people to take control of their lives and start afresh is something we need in the modern world. If you haven’t seen the show yet, you are in for something really inspirational. The “Marie Kondo” method is basically channeling your positive energy by organizing and tidying things up in your house. Even buying a product or investing in something can be a spiritual process if you look at it in a positive light. The newest method in town for people who try hard to love themselves or find focus in life.

3. Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai continues to inspire viewers even five years after becoming the youngest Nobel Prize winner. Even after being a victim of a terrorist attack, she believes that forgiving people is the best revenge you can take, as it does not cause any harm to you. Side note – She finally found love and got hitched in between all the negativity surrounding her beliefs. We cannot be happier that she is safe and continues to inspire girls who are maybe still living in fear of being judged or being reprimanded in society.

4. Christine Blasey Ford

Christine Blasey Ford is a name that was everywhere for months due to her connections with Brett Kavanaugh, a former nominee of the Supreme Court. Ford finally agreed, in the end, to testify if Kavanaugh was a victim of an intimate assault at a high-school party. Ford’s story was praised by people all over the world. Even teachers suspended classes for the duration of the hearings.

5. Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama is not yet out of the spotlight, despite the fulfillment of her tenure as First Lady. Amazon ranked her memoir “Becoming”, at number one, for 47 days, which surpassed the record of Fifty Shades of Grey. She didn’t hold back when she spoke out about her struggle with IVF, miscarriage, and other taboo subjects. This book isn’t the only one she has written. You will also find many inspiring quotes from her that can help you get through tough times.

6. Angela Merkel

Merkel was Germany’s first female chancellor. She was elected to this position in 2005. Forbes ranked her as the most powerful woman in the world in 2018. She was a leading female who entered the “boys club”, international politics and expanded Germany’s controversial open-door immigration policy.

7. Danica Roem

Danica Roem was elected in 2017 to Virginia’s House of Delegates after outraising Robert Marshall. She inspired the world with her persistence to win and had knocked on 75,000 doors during her campaign. It simply goes to show that once you set your mind to do something, there is no stopping your spirit. It might seem like a utopian world where we talk about “righteous” politicians, but guess what, she is starting somewhere.

8. Serena Williams

Serena and Venus, both the Williams siblings, are well-known tennis players. Serena established the Serena Williams Fund to promote equity for all. She is also an ambassador for goodwill at the United Nations. Not only has she made her mark in the tennis world, but her indomitable spirit also continues to inspire many budding female athletes across the globe.

9. Emily Weiss

Weiss is best known as the NYC intern who did extraordinary things on “The Hills” over a few years. Weiss transformed her blog into a huge company and inspired young entrepreneurs. Her products were so popular that there was a 10,000-person waiting list.

10. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez stunned the political establishment when she defeated Joe Crawley in her congressional district. Her immediate impact on the country can be felt from showing fellow congresspeople how social networking works to fighting Mitch McConnell at the capital. The former White House chief, Steve Bannon even gave her a high recommendation.

11. Emma Gonzalez

Gonzalez Was one of Parkland’s survivors. She delivered a viral speech to an anti-gun control rally. Although she is still a teenager, she and her classmates founded- Never Again MSD. The student-led group of political action is committed to passing stricter gun control laws.

12. Nadia Murad

Nadia Murad rose to prominence after being released from captivity. Murad was captivated for prostitution for three months by ISIS members. After being released, she became a prominent figure within the human rights movement and an advocate for the Yazidi community. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for refusing the social codes that demanded women be silent about the abuses she had suffered. She uses her platform as a way to educate people about her country’s situation.

13. Tarana Burke

Burke created the #MeToo campaign to raise awareness about harassment and show survivors that they are not alone. Alyssa Milano asked her Twitter followers to respond to her tweet with the hashtag “Me Too” to help revive the movement. The American activist created the fiery movement back in 2006, which still has people stirring in debate to this day. No matter how much negativity or support this gathered, it surely empowered many women as well as other genders to stand up for themselves instead of masking their pain.

14. Melinda Gates

Bill and Melinda co-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This foundation is committed to improving education and healthcare worldwide. They donated almost $10 billion to four international funds to fight for the eradication of the death of children to various diseases and health issues.

15. Shonda Rhimes

Rhimes is a producer of “How to Get Away with Murder” and ‘Grey’s Anatomy. She has a growing audience and signed a multi-million-dollar agreement with Netflix. This agreement will ensure there’s always more audience for her content.
So now that we know who they are, we sure are proud to be on earth at the same time as them. These women are the leaders who guide you towards that road but in the end, it is we who ingrain that inspiration and deal with our problems in our own individual ways. Whatever your method, the core idea is to speak up for yourself and others, because that is the only way we can contribute towards a more positive change in the world. They inspire you to keep striving towards their goals, and giving up is not a part of their dictionary. Do you have a hero who inspires you to be a better human every day? Mention her in the comments below!

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Indrani KarmakarSenior Social Writer

 

Indrani is a writer and artist who likes to add a dash of humor to everything she does. She has two years of experience in writing articles across beauty, health, and lifestyle genres. After graduating in Political Science from Calcutta University, she took a detour into the world of creativity and discovered her knack for social writing, advertising, designing, and doodling.

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