By: Annette Sebastian
“Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, ‘She doesn’t have what it takes.’ They will say, ‘Women don’t have what it takes.’” ー Clare Booth Luce
Throughout history there have been numerous women who have overcome obstacles and allowed more women to take steps into fields that are male dominated. These women have shown society that women are capable of doing what they set their minds to and have encouraged other women to follow their footsteps.
Here are a couple of powerful women who have changed society and the lives of many women
1. Ruth Bader Ginsberg
She was an American lawyer whose career focused on gender equality and women’s rights. She co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She later became nominated as the second woman to become a Supreme Court Justice. Ginsberg entered law school as one of the only females and proved that a woman could be a successful lawyer. Her accomplishments and dedication to fighting against sex discrimination allows future generations like us to experience fair treatment.
2. Indra Nooyi
Nooyi was the CEO of PepsiCo and has consistently been ranked among the world’s most powerful women. She broke down the traditional view that business is for men, proving that women can be in charge and excel in business. She was one of the few minority women who held a CEO position in a high profile corporate company. Nooyi focused on a healthier and more sustainable initiative for PepsiCo. She was a key player in raising PepsiCo’s net profit and focused on long term goals even though they were controversial at the time.
3. Sheryl Sandberg
Sanberg is the COO of Facebook and the first woman to serve on Facebook’s board of directors. She was also one of the first workers at Google and grew their advertising team. She has also proved that women can achieve great feats if they try. She is fighting for equal representation and is the founder of LeanIn.Org, a global community focused on helping women achieve their ambitions.
4. Kamala Harris
Recently, Kamala Harris has become the first female Vice President-Elect of the United States. It is such a huge accomplishment because she is a woman of color who is in a position that has always been filled with White males. It is the highest position in the United States that a woman has held and it proves that women are capable of reaching and leading these positions. This is a very important moment in history and just as Harris said, “I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.”
These are all women who are not afraid to follow their dreams and change society. There are also many other women that I have not mentioned who have paved the way for future generations of females to succeed. Women need to fight harder to hold positions of power but as we can see from the examples above, it is possible. As society advances, female leaders will not be an exception anymore.
Sources:
https://www.oyez.org/justices/ruth_bader_ginsburg
https://www.businessinsider.com/indra-nooyi-pepsi-ceo-2018-8
https://www.businessinsider.com/fabulous-life-of-sheryl-sandberg-2014-7