CELEBRATING WOMEN AS AGENTS OF CHANGE FOR GLOBAL HARMONY
(The Seven Heroic Women in History from Each Continent)
…a piece dedicated to the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration
Women have profoundly shaped history across various fields, advocating for gender equality and empowering future generations. Recognising their contributions is essential for honoring their legacy and fostering a more equitable world. International Women’s Day (IWD) raises awareness and promotes collective action to tackle challenges faced by women, with its roots in early 20th-century labour movements and suffrage campaigns in Europe and North America. These movements emerged in response to poor working conditions and the fight for women’s voting rights, gaining momentum as women sought equal rights with men. Seven remarkable women in history have made significant contributions that continue to resonate today, representing the impact of women worldwide across various fields. Their achievements highlight the diverse roles women have played throughout history.
- North America
Rosa Parks: A Symbol of Equality in The Civil Rights Movement
Rosa Parks, born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, is a key figure in the civil rights movement, renowned for her refusal to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger on December 1, 1955. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted 381 days and ultimately led to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that bus segregation was unconstitutional. Rosa Parks served as an administrative aide for Congressman John Conyers in Detroit from 1965 until her retirement in 1988, advocating for civil rights and co-founding organizations to empower youth through education, including the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development. She passed away on October 24, 2005, at ninety-two, leaving a legacy celebrated through annual Rosa Parks Day events and numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- South America
Dolores Cacuango Exemplifies Resilience and Dedication to Social Justice
Dolores Cacuango (1881-1971), known as “Mama Doloreyuk” or “Mama Warrior,” was a key activist for indigenous rights in Ecuador, focusing on education, land reform, and social justice. She co-founded the FEI in 1944 and organized significant protests and strikes that advanced the recognition and rights of indigenous peoples. Cacuango established Ecuador’s first autonomous indigenous school in Yanahuayco in 1945, emphasizing bilingual education in Spanish and Quechua to empower indigenous communities. Despite facing government opposition and imprisonment for her activism, she remained dedicated to justice until her death on April 23, 1971, continuing to inspire others even after becoming paraplegic. Dolores Cacuango has been posthumously honored for her contributions to bilingual intercultural education and indigenous rights in Ecuador, with streets named after her and a snake species, Tropidophis cacuangoae, dedicated to
her memory. Her work continues to inspire movements for equality among marginalized communities, emphasising the ongoing struggle against oppression faced by indigenous peoples worldwide.
- Europe
Marie Curie: a Great Pioneer in Science
Marie Curie, born Maria Salomea Skłodowska in 1867 in Warsaw, was a groundbreaking physicist and chemist known for her research on radioactivity, a term she coined; she was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to receive Nobel Prizes in both Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911). After excelling academically despite financial hardships, she moved to Paris in 1891 to study at the Sorbonne, earning degrees in physics and mathematics. During World War I, Marie Curie developed mobile X-ray units called “petites Curies” and trained medical personnel to operate them, benefiting over one million soldiers. Her pioneering work in radioactivity laid the foundation for modern cancer treatments, and her legacy continues to inspire women scientists today.
- Africa
Hatshepsut Epitomises a Barrier Breaker
Hatshepsut, a prominent pharaoh of ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, ruled from approximately 1479 to 1458 BCE and is renowned for her monumental building projects and trade expeditions. Initially a regent, she declared herself pharaoh around 1473 BCE, adopting male royal symbols and claiming divine selection from the god Amun to legitimize her reign in a male-dominated society. Hatshepsut’s reign focused on economic prosperity through trade, exemplified by her expedition to Punt that brought back valuable goods. She is renowned for her architectural achievements, particularly the Mortuary Temple at Deir el-Bahari, and for strengthening Egypt’s influence through trade agreements while renovating temples and constructing tall obelisks. Hatshepsut likely died around 1458 BCE after a 22-year reign, leaving a legacy as one of ancient Egypt’s most effective pharaohs. Her story exemplifies exceptional female leadership and the complexities of female authority in history.
- Asia
Indira Gandhi: A 20th-Century Socio-Political Influencer
Indira Gandhi (1917–1984) was the first female Prime Minister of India, known for her influential yet controversial political career that began with her involvement in the Indian National Congress and the Quit India Movement. She rose to power in 1966 after the death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, evolving from a perceived puppet to a formidable leader shaping party policy. During her first term, Indira Gandhi spearheaded the Green Revolution to boost agricultural productivity and achieve food self-sufficiency in India, while also leading a successful foreign policy exemplified by the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Additionally, she nationalized fourteen major banks in 1969 to enhance credit access for farmers and small businesses, promoting social justice and reducing economic disparities. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984, by two Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for Operation Blue Star, which sparked widespread
anti-Sikh riots resulting in thousands of deaths; she is a polarizing figure celebrated for women’s empowerment and criticized for her authoritarianism during The Emergency. Her legacy continues through her family’s political lineage, particularly her son Rajiv Gandhi, who became Prime Minister after her death.
- Australia (Oceania)
Isabella Aiona Abbott: A Trailblazer
Isabella Aiona Abbott (1919–2010) was a pioneering Hawaiian educator and ethnobotanist, recognized as the first native Hawaiian woman to earn a PhD in science and an expert on Pacific marine algae. She authored eight books and over 150 publications, significantly impacting both scientific research and the preservation of Hawaiian culture. Abbott was an ethnobotanist who, after retiring from Stanford in 1982, established an undergraduate major in traditional Hawaiian plant knowledge at the University of Hawaiʻi. Her book “Lāʻau Hawaiʻi: Traditional Hawaiian Uses of Plants” is one of the first comprehensive texts on this subject. Throughout her career, Abbott received several prestigious awards, including the Darbaker Prize (1969) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (2008). In January 2023, the University of Hawaiʻi’s Board of Regents voted to rename its Life Sciences Building in her honor. Isabella Aiona Abbott passed away on October 28, 2010. Her legacy lives on through scholarships for graduate research in Hawaiian ethnobotany and marine botany at the University of Hawaiʻi. She is remembered as a pioneering scientist and advocate for combining traditional knowledge with modern science, inspiring many students and researchers in marine biology while promoting cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.
- Antarctica
Ingrid Christensen: Barrier Breaker
Ingrid Christensen (10 October 1891 – 18 June 1976) was the first woman to set foot on the Antarctic mainland, achieving this milestone on January 30, 1937, during her fourth expedition. She made significant contributions to polar exploration in the early 20th century while breaking gender barriers in a predominantly male field. Christensen was a pioneering explorer who, alongside her husband, demonstrated fearless determination in challenging conditions and became one of the first women to fly over Antarctica in 1937. She was awarded Norway’s Knighthood of St Olav (First Class) in 1946 for her contributions during World War II and her dedication to public service. Ingrid Christensen received Norway’s Knighthood of St Olav (First Class) in 1946 for her significant contributions during World War II and her dedication to public service as an explorer.
The Call to Act
The 2025 International Women’s Day theme, “Accelerate Action” emphasizes the importance of gender justice through inclusivity, and calls for action to protect rights and promote equality. As this day approaches, governments, businesses, and communities must commit to these principles, ensuring that every woman and girl can thrive without barriers or discrimination.
Happy 2025 International Women’s Day Celebration.