This 8th of March isn’t just any regular Saturday, it is considered to be International Women’s Day. Why do we celebrate this day? This specific day is meant to celebrate everything women around the world have achieved while also calling for equality. 

Back in 1911, the first ever Women’s Day was celebrated, and since then, many changes have been made for women around the world.  Historically, women and girls have not been treated the same as men and boys. Despite all the efforts for equality, across the world, many women still face discrimination. Many young girls, even in today’s society, cannot have access to an education – either they are banned from education or can’t afford to continue their education.

So, let’s gather some inspiring women from across the globe and fields that have made an impact.

 First up, in the field of electrical engineering, Katya Echazarreta, born on June 22, 1996, became the first Mexican-born woman to travel space and became the first woman to impact the technology field back in June of 2022. She graduated from the San Diego City College with the class of 2016, later going to the University of California located in Los Angeles. She faced challenges like the lack of women in her field, where she could ask them for advice, and several topics that people of color deal with daily. She was first an intern for NASA, where she decided to take a position as a test lead for the Europa Ground Support group. Know, this is a lot of science, but it’s important to recognize!

 Kathrine Johnson, born on August 26, 1918, went on to graduate early from high school, where she enrolled in West Virginia State by the time she was 15.  Later, becoming a mathematician whose calculations were crucial to NASA’s missions and were their instrument of success. Her work broke barriers for both women and people of color who wanted to be a part of the STEM field. She passed away on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101.

She was an actress and an inventor, which is the reason why you have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a working GPS. Hedy Lamarr, born on November 9, 1914, co-developed a frequency-hopping communication system during World War 2. However, even with her having an IQ of 140,  her contributions weren’t recognized during her lifetime. She passed away on January 19, 2000 

Moving on to activism! 

Claudette Colvin, born on September 5, 1939, at just 15 years old, refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, on   March 2, 1955- nine months before Rosa Parks. Despite her bravery, her role was disregarded because of both her age and her having a darker skin tone, and she later became pregnant shortly after. This doesn’t undermine any of these two strong females who made roots to say no and to stand up for what is to be the future. 

Let’s hear of some actors who have also made an impact in the industry, such as Ella Fitzgerald, born April 25,1917,  became the first black woman to win a Grammy in 1958. She passed away June 15, 1996.

 Anna May Wong, born January 3, 1905, became the first Chinese-American movie star, paving the way for more representation of Asian talent and not discrimination. She died on February 3, 1961, but her legacy continues to live on in U.S quarters as a way to honor her being the first Chinese-American movie star and being an advocate for more representation.  

Those who represented sports included Kathrine Switzer, who was born on January 5, 1947, and became the first woman to compete in the Boston Marathon. Despite multiple attempts to forcibly remove her, she paved the way for breaking barriers in distance running. 

Next up, Surya Bonaly, born on December 15, 1973, who was banned from Ice Skating because she became the first and only Olympic figure skater to land a backflip on one blade in 1998, she had gone through discrimination and unfair judging throughout her career of being an ice skater. She represented that you don’t have to look a certain way to enjoy being a great skater.

Going around the world is much better than staying in a corner, so meet more international women advocates.

Miriam Makeba, born on March 4, 1932, was also known as “Mama Africa” and was not only a singer but also an activist who used her music to fight a system of racial segregation that separated white and non-white people in South Africa. Though South Africa exiled her from her country because they viewed her and her music as a threat, she and many others were able to bring down the corrupt government and helped liberate people.

In Nigeria, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti born on October 25, 1900, she was a women’s rights activist who believed in advocating for women’s suffrage and fighting colonial taxation. She passed away on April 13, 1978.

Rani Lakshmibai, born on November 19, 1828, was A warrior queen who became a key figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British. She became a symbol in India of resistance and courage because she was a female who had joined the rebellion knowing how to horse ride and use her skills in both martial arts and swordsmanship. She passed away on June 18, 1858. 

Clara Campoamor, born on February 12, 1888, was a Spanish lawyer who fought for women’s suffrage. Used her efforts to lead Spanish women to gain the right to vote in 1931. She passed away on April 30, 1972.

Going on to Egypt, we hear about Nawal El Saadawi, born October 27, 1931, she studied and went to Cairo University in 1955 and later went to Columbia University in 1966. She was a writer, physician, and activist who fought for gender equality and was against female genital mutilation. She unfortunately passed away March 21, 2021.

Hey, New Zealand, lets not leave out Dame Whina Cooper. Born on December 9, 1895, she worked to not only defend her people but also the rights of her people. She believed that Māori people were entitled to the rights of their land. She was also a  Māori leader who led the Māori Land March of 1975. She sadly passed away on March 26, 1994. 

As we conclude our exploration of trailblazing women and their contributions to various fields, these women from diverse regions have left lasting legacies in politics, science, arts, activism, and more—proving that trailblazers exist across all cultures and continents. As we recognize the achievements of women worldwide, we also acknowledge the ongoing challenges they face, from the gender pay gap to reproductive rights. International Women’s Day remains a powerful platform for unity and advocacy, inspiring action toward a more open future for all. So, whether it’s a family member, teacher, celebrity, historical figure, or mentor, we want to hear about the inspirational women in your life.

Which women inspires you?