In a society ruled by men where gender inequalities are still at the heart of contemporary issues, honorable women have been fighting for decades to make their voices heard and reverse the trend. On the occasion of International Women's Day, which takes place every year on March 8, let's highlight five inspiring female personalities who have contributed to changing the place of women in the world!
The year 1789 marked a turning point in the history of France with the publication of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, providing a framework for individual and common natural rights and the conditions for their implementation. But do you know the Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizens and its striking introduction:“Woman is born free and remains equal to man in rights”? Published in 1791 and supported by Olympe de Gouges, an emblematic figure of feminism, this declaration aims to promote the emancipation of women and to enhance their intellectual, social and political recognition. The foundations of the fight for gender equality were laid. On the other hand, it will be necessary to wait until 1945 for the Charter of the United Nations to affirm the very principle of equality between the two sexes at the international level.
International Women's Day has its origins in the early 20th century, a consequence of European and American feminist struggles. Thus, on February 28, 1909, the first National Women's Day, supported by the Socialist Party of America, was born. The rest of the world gradually followed the movement until it was made official by the UN in 1977:in France, it has been celebrated since 1982. It promotes the fight for women's rights and the hard fought struggles to achieve gender equality.
Do you know who decriminalized abortion, who contributed to registering women among committed intellectuals or who, with a simple gesture, put an end to years of racial oppression? Take part in the guessing game and discover 5 fights and their 5 worthy representatives!
In 1955, racial segregation was in full swing in the United States. It was without counting on the incredible audacity of a woman who would, without knowing it, rise to the rank of muse and true icon of the defense of civil rights. This woman of color refused to give way to a white passenger on a bus in Alabama. His symbolic gesture was supported by the no less famous Martin Luther King who undertook a campaign of protest. So on November 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down bus segregation laws. This honorable woman is called Rosa Parks.
A committed feminist survivor of the Holocaust, our second heroine is the centerpiece of the advancement of French women's rights. His name is extolled by many wives, daughters and mothers who, thanks to his action, obtained the right to dispose of their bodies. Very controversial, this politician, then Minister of Health, helped to decriminalize abortion in 1975. Elected President of the European Parliament in 1979, she never ceased to fight throughout the world in favor of women's rights until her died on June 30, 2017. Simone Veil :a true pantheonized icon.
Now let's talk about a woman who has made the defense of American women's rights central to her career. Judge of the Supreme Court, willingly speaking to defend feminist causes such as abortion or the #metoo movement, this great lady put her humanism at the service of her country until her last breath. Not hesitating to question American justice in the face of patriarchy, she is still after her disappearance a source of inspiration for many women around the world. Ruth Bader Ginsburg :a woman of honor.
A universal symbol of the intellectual revolution of women, this renowned woman of science helped save thousands of lives during the First World War. Both a feminist, a devoted mother and a humanist, she has enabled the emancipation of hundreds of women by training them in science and in particular in her favorite field:radiology. Inseparable from her husband, whose name she shares, this double Polish Nobel Prize winner who rests in the Pantheon marked a turning point in the fight for women's rights. Marie Sklodowska, real name Marie Curie , continues, almost 100 years after her death, to inspire hundreds of thousands of women around the world.
The first spy and war resistance icon of color, this 20th century American star, dancer, reviewer and actress, did not hesitate to take all the risks to defend her adopted country:France. Enjoying notorious popularity following her actions during the Second World War, she subsequently placed the fight against racism at the heart of her commitment. The last woman in our top has just entered the Pantheon on November 30, 2021, 46 years after her disappearance. Josephine Baker , a free woman.
Did you know that every year Women's Rights Day highlights an official theme? In 2022, the theme chosen is “:Equality today for a sustainable future”, which highlights the adage that advocates that women are the future of men…
