The first woman president

Vigdis Finnbogadottir was the first female president in the world. Vigdis served as the fourth president of Iceland from 1980 to 1996. Today as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador she continues to fight for women's rights, education and sustainability. She is convinced women can save the planet.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams"

Eleanor Roosevelt was an American politician, diplomat and activist. She was the First Lady of the United States from March 1933 to April 1945. She was controversial at the time for her outspokenness, particularly her stance on racial issues. She was the first presidential spouse to hold regular press conferences, write a daily newspaper column, write a monthly magazine column, host a weekly radio show, and speak at a national party convention. On a few occasions, she publicly disagreed with her husband's policies. She advocated for expanded roles for women in the workplace, the civil rights of African Americans and Asian Americans, and the rights of World War II refugees.

"Remember the ladies"

Abigail Adams was the First lady of the United States from 1735-1826. She opposed slavery and pushed for women's rights and education. Her famous line "remember the ladies" was followed by urging her husband not to put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. While her husband traveled political duties, she took over and managed the family farm and business affairs.

"If they don't give you a seat at the table bring a folding chair"

Shirley Chisholm was an American politician, educator, and author. In 1968, she became the first black woman elected to the United States Congress, and she represented New York's 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1972, she became the first black candidate for a major party's nomination for President of the United States, and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. In 2015, Chisholm was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Qui Jin

Qui Jin was a Chinese revolutionary, feminist, and writer in the 19th century. Qiu grew up in her ancestral home, Shanyin Village, Shaoxing, Zhejiang. During an unhappy marriage, Qiu came into contact with new ideas. She became a member of the Triads and Tongmenghui secret society who at the time advocated the overthrow of the Qing and restoration of Han Chinese governance. Qiu wrote a manifesto entitled "A Respectful Proclamation to China's 200 Million Women Comrades", where she lamented the problems caused by bound feet and oppressive marriages. Qiu was executed after a failed uprising against the Qing dynasty, and she is considered a national heroine in China.

Anti-War

Bella Abzug was an American lawyer, U.S. Representative, social activist and a leader of the Women's Movement. With the start of the Vietnam War she became a vocal member of the anti-war movement. Once elected to Congress, in 1971 she took a "people's oath" on the steps of the House after taking the official congressional oath of office. Known for her brash personality, she pushed for an end to the war, women's rights and the needs of underdogs.

Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune, born 1875, was an American educator, stateswoman, philanthropist, humanitarian and civil rights activist best known for starting a private school for African-American students in Daytona Beach, Florida. She attracted donations of time and money, and developed the academic school as a college. She also was appointed as a national adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of what was known as his Black Cabinet. She was known as "The First Lady of The Struggle" because of her commitment to gain better lives for African Americans.

The youngest Nobel Prize winner

Malala Yousafzai, born 1997, is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. She is known for human rights advocacy, especially the education of women and children in her native Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school. She was shot in the head by a Taliban and she remained unconscious and in critical condition at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, but later her condition improved enough for her to be sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK. Her advocacy has grown into an international movement for women's rights and fighting terrorism.

Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian or 'Empress Wu', born 647, Wu was the sole officially recognized empress regnant of China in more than two millennia. The importance to history of Wu Zetian's period of political and military leadership includes the major expansion of the Chinese empire, extending it far beyond its previous territorial limits, deep into Central Asia, and engaging in a series of wars on the Korean Peninsula, first allying with Silla against Goguryeo, and then against Silla over the occupation of former Goguryeo territory. Within China, besides the more direct consequences of her struggle to gain and maintain supreme power, Wu's leadership resulted in important effects regarding social class in Chinese society and in relation to state support for Taoism, Buddhism, education, and literature.