Feminism and the fight for gender equality
The world is full of strong, active women who have overcome difficulties and created a bright future for themselves and those around them. The courage and determination that women have shown over the years have built confidence. Women change-makers empower us all to want to support feminists who fight for gender equality.
Many women around the world have worked to create significant change in their field: sports, music, politics, medicine, among others. Women have taught us that we can always improve our lives and the lives of others. We all know inspiring women: incredible, tenacious women who drive change. These women have often broken down barriers, which is why it is of utmost importance to celebrate and highlight their personality, heart, and work. Some came and went, many are still with us, and others are yet to come. They will continue to work for women's rights.
Below we will meet some women from France, Mexico, Italy, and Spain who have been feminist icons in the fight for gender equality. These women are not limited by what society says. Their passion motivates them to fight for empowerment and equality. Let's honor these and every one of the wonderful women in the world, and thank them for what they do, have done, and will continue to do.
FRANCE
Simone Veil
Simone Veil was born on July 13, 1927, in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. She was incredibly influential as Minister of Justice, Minister of Health, and by presiding over the European Parliament, among other positions she held. She was a member of the Constitutional Council of France and frequently addressed constitutional issues. Her journey was full of adventure, and her work inspired many women not only in France.
As a Holocaust survivor, she experienced significant grief. That pain spurred her to change. After the war, she studied law and politics, further fueling her desire. At this stage of her life, she met her husband, with whom she had three children. Afterward, she managed to strike a balance between her family and a career that changed the world. One of her most memorable campaigns was the legalization of abortion in France in 1975. Simone's struggle attracted masses, at a time when women were not allowed to do so. She also fought for access to contraception, and without her influence, French women would have had to wait much longer than they did. She was the voice of many women around the world.
Coco Chanel
Only a small number of women do not know Coco Chanel. She created a brand that will live on for centuries, an achievement that very few will be able to accomplish. She was a visionary woman who created the little black dress and popularized tanning.
The French designer was born on August 19, 1883, in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France. Her brand, Chanel, is known worldwide because it never goes out of style. Her full name was Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, but she was always known as Coco. She was a businesswoman and fashion queen who overcame difficulties and continued to fight for her dream even though she was told it was unattainable. She experienced many negative situations during her childhood, but that did not stop her from pursuing her passion. She was a daring and successful woman in a male-dominated industry.
Perfumes, bags, suits, and jewelry: everyone desires Chanel brand products. Coco is an icon and role model for women worldwide. Her success shows us that it is possible to be a successful fashion designer and businesswoman at the same time. Without Chanel, many movies and shows would have to be rewritten.
MEXICO
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo was born in Coyoacán, Mexico City, on July 6, 1907. She is known for her beautiful paintings and her relentless passion for art, despite her circumstances. As a child, she contracted polio, which left her disabled. Entering adulthood, Frida wished to become a doctor, but a car accident she had at 18 forced her to take another path.
Apparently, the way her life unfolded led her to become an artist. Her paintings are now recognized worldwide, giving other women artists courage and insight. Frida is a feminist icon, and her name is always associated with the fight for gender equality.
Many of her works are self-portraits or portraits of close friends and family. Her work expresses honesty, and over time she developed a unique, well-defined style, which was intensely influenced by Mexican folklore. In addition to her work as an artist, Frida was also interested in politics and was a member of the Mexican Communist Party. In her political work, she was able to express herself in a different way. Women around the world still appreciate the strength of her voice.
Frida's life was full of tragedy, but she still left us approximately 200 paintings and a strong hope for gender equality.
Marisol Valles García
Marisol Valles García was born in 1989 in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. She was the chief of police of the municipality of Praxedis G. Guerrero, in the state of Chihuahua, located in the north of the country. This place was and still is one of the busiest and most dangerous in the world. The police force of that municipality had trouble finding a chief. Death threats, aggression, violence, and danger were the norm in this environment. Marisol was still studying when she accepted the position, and she was named "the bravest woman in Mexico" for it. She had a husband and a young son at the time. She explained that her decision to take the position was to find a way to create change and ensure that her community would not have to live in fear for the rest of their lives.
Her courage, sacrifice, and determination to make a difference stand out, making her a hero in the eyes of many.
ITALY
Samantha Cristoforetti
Samantha Cristoforetti was the first Italian woman to go to space. She is a mix of intelligence, beauty, and passion. She has inspired many women with her daring nature and fierce need to achieve success. She has surpassed all expectations and is an icon for women and feminists worldwide.
She was born in Milan, Italy, on April 26, 1977. She holds the record for the longest uninterrupted space flight made by a European astronaut. Her record, still unbroken, is 199 days and 16 hours.
When Samantha turned 18, she went on an exchange to a space camp. Her passion and fascination with space continued to grow. Samantha went on to study at the Technical University of Munich, where she graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. After many years of hard work and study, she became one of the first female lieutenants and fighter pilots in the Italian Air Force. She currently holds the coveted rank of captain.
Beatrice Vio
Beatrice Vio, Olympic champion, is absolute proof of how much can be achieved with determination. She was born in Venice on March 4, 1997, and excelled in sports from a young age. Towards the end of 2008, she contracted what appeared to be a cold, but was actually a severe case of meningitis.
Both her legs were amputated below the knees and both her forearms. Studying, fencing, and exploring were her three passions, and after the accident, she decided to continue her life as before. At the age of 20, she became a wheelchair fencing champion. It only took her three months of intense rehabilitation to return to sports, and she did so stronger and braver than ever. Beatrice has unstoppable strength that has shown women around the world that there is no reason to give up on our dreams, regardless of the circumstances.
SPAIN
Bebe
Bebe, as she is known, is a Spanish singer, songwriter, and performer. She has done wonderfully in the music industry, with many awards and nominations. She is a passionate and talented woman who loves music and can make a crowd come alive. She has acted in some movies and enjoys performing in all its forms.
María Nieves Rebolledo Vila is her birth name; but Bebe, her stage name, is so familiar to Latin pop that many love it. She has two very catchy songs: "Malo" and "Ella." The first is a protest against domestic violence and exposes the harsh reality in which many women everywhere still live. The lyrics of "Ella" give women wings. These popular songs brought her international fame, and her fans all over the world sing them at the top of their lungs.
Bebe was born in Valencia, Spain, on May 9, 1989. She spent most of her childhood in Extremadura. As an artist, she has traveled all over the world to promote her albums. Her energy and talent inspire and her honest way of expressing herself makes her an icon of the feminist movement not only in Spain.
Elisa Soriano Fisher
Elisa Soriano Fisher was a highly esteemed Spanish teacher and ophthalmologist. She was born in Madrid on October 22, 1891, and lived her entire life hoping for better times and with the enthusiasm that one day there would be gender equality. She lived through difficult times, and as a woman working in medicine, she dealt with many difficult moments. She fought for a long time for gender equality and women's rights.
Elisa was convinced that women should have a voice. She was so lively and intelligent that she always shone among everyone around her. She founded the National Association of Spanish Women and was president of the Association of University Women's Youth. Elisa was a great leader in the fight for universal suffrage and in the intellectual feminist movement between 1920 and 1930. She died in 1964, successfully accomplishing her mission by bringing new ideas to the world.
This article has covered the lives of eight completely different women, born in four different countries, who have greatly influenced over a century. In those times, the fight for women's rights around the world made significant progress. The determination that women like Elisa Soriano Fisher and Simone Veil showed in the 20th century has undoubtedly motivated other women like Bebe and Beatrice Vio to achieve their goals. However, much remains to be done. Successful artists like Frida Kahlo, astronauts like Samantha Cristoforetti, high-ranking public officials like Marisol Valles García, and entrepreneurs like Coco Chanel are still the exception rather than the rule. Until half of the top professionals are women, we will not have won the war. The stories of the women in this article clearly show that progress is still being made and will continue to be made in the future, as more confident, daring, and talented women are born.
