It is International Women’s Day, a time to reflect on progress made and to call for change. But it’s also a time to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. In the spirit of celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women, we present 6 women you might not have heard of, but should know more about.
Agnodice
Reportedly the first female gynecologist, Agnodice lived in the Greek city state of Athens in the 4th Century BCE. She practiced medicine in Greece even though women faced the death penalty for doing so. While she was eventually caught, her patients came to her defense and she was allowed to continue her work.
Did you know? Despite the medical advances since 400 B.C. more than 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.*
Raichō Hiratsuka
As a pioneering Japanese editor, writer and political activist, Raichō Hiratsuka co-founded her country’s first all-women run literary journal, Seitō in 1911. While her career as a political activist covered many decades, she is remembered as the leading light of the women’s movement in early 20th century Japan.
Did you know? Globally, women are paid less than men. Women in most countries earn on average only 60 to 75% of men’s wages.*
Rigoberta Menchú
The first indigenous person to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Rigoberta Menchú campaigned for social justice and indidenous peoples’ rights during and after Guatamala’s Civil War (1960-1996). To magnify women’s work on peace, justice and equality, she founded the Nobel Women’s Initiative in 2006.
Did you know? According to the U.N., there is a 35% greater chance of peace agreements lasting 15 years when a woman participates.*
Unity Dow
Unity Dow is a judge, human rights activist and writer. In 1992, as a plaintiff, she won a historic case enabling women married to non-citizens the rights to confer nationality to their children. As Botswana’s first female High Court judge, she gained international acclaim when she won a case that allowed the San people to return to their ancestral home.
Did you know? In more than 60 countries, women are denied the right to acquire, change or retain their nationality.*
Loveness Mudzuru and Ruvimbo Tsopodzi
Former child brides, Loveness Mudzuru and Ruvimbo Tsopodzi made history in 2016 when Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court ruled in their favor stating that nobody in the country may enter into marriage before the age of 18.
Did you know? More than 700 million women alive today were married before the age of 18.*
*All facts and figures are from UN Women.