So many women have changed this world for the better, and it’s with a grand celebration that we commemorate International Women’s Day this March 8th!
These women are warriors who have fought a long, hard battle to be able to speak up for themselves and others and to position themselves as experts and equals in this world. The Equality Rights Movement allowed so many doors to open for women, and we’re so thankful they did!
It’s so important to be reminded of what women in history have accomplished and how, because of them and more, it enables all of us more in this world! The way I see it, an equal world, means an enabled world.
Below are three women who have empowered others, left their mark in this world, and who have made a significant impact on the lives of others.
Women Help Show the World Compassion and Make a Difference
When women were granted the ability and permission to be equal in the world, many women took this opportunity to show incredible compassion and kindness to other people!
Mother Teresa
One very honorable mention that has demonstrated insurmountable kindness for this world is the woman commonly called a saint – Mother Teresa. At the very early age of 12 years old, she committed her life to serve the Lord through her services in helping the poor, sick, especially children, outcast, abandoned, refugees, formerly prostituted, diseased, lepers, people with AIDS, the elderly and so many more!
She ran soup kitchens and programs where she taught children from off the street and helped the community in any way she could! All of these services were at no charge!
In servicing others, she spread the beautiful Word of God and furthered His kingdom as her life’s purpose.
She did ALL of this without discriminating against a single person! She trusted God fiercely and in His plan for her life, despite the many struggles she encountered while caring for the sick and needy.
Because of compassion, outcasts, and different people were given a chance to be included and loved!
Princess Diana
When we think of royalty, we often think of crowns and high stature. The late Princess Diana certainly fit this profile; she, however, defined the word royalty in a completely different manner.
Aside from being one of the first royals to break protocol as well as speak her mind passionately, unlike other royals, she helped many people that others would turn a blind eye to or treat differently in more than 100 different causes.
Princess Diana used her power and high position to help several sick and hungry people, including children. She banned landmines to prevent deaths and injury to innocent people, and she raised awareness about mental health.
More than that, though, she was an incredible advocate for those who suffered things that no one else talked about or that people treated differently.
For example, she stood up for those who had leprosy and HIV/AIDS when no one else would! She would make a stand by sitting on their beds against other people’s comments and warnings – she even shook leper’s hands and touched their sores. She went to battle for those who couldn’t fight for themselves, personally visiting many patients and treating them like REAL people when others wouldn’t.
Her boldness changed so many things! She was a benevolent icon and one that the world will never forget!
Furthermore, equality for women changed so much in history, including movements that changed the world!
Rosa Parks
The African Americans suffered so much discrimination years ago, and when Rosa Parks took a stand for them and herself, she changed the world!
Rosa was an African American civil rights activist who didn’t typically break the rules, until one day when she did…
She sparked the life-changing movement, The Montgomery Bus Boycott, which in turn led to approved racial segregation laws. This all started in 1955 when, on a city bus, Rosa was commanded to move from her seat and let a white passenger sit there instead, as was the law back then. She stood her ground and resisted the command and didn’t budge – which even led to her arrest.
She broke the law for her community, and her bravery got E.D. Nixon’s attention, a longtime civil rights leader, who posted her bail. The next day, Rosa, along with Martin Luther King Jr and E.D. Nixon, purposely sat in white people’s seats on a bus – in the front! This action encouraged the African American community to follow suit in taking a stand against the white population.
Knowing that the bus system relied heavily on black passengers for their business, Martin Luther King Jr. asked every African American to stop taking the bus and any other means of transportation. This happened at the same time as the trial for Rosa, and many African American commuters refused public transportation in protest to her trial.
Rosa’s actions caused the Bus Boycott, which lasted 381 days, despite many atrocious actions and events that resulted from it. In June 1956, all the efforts, sweat, blood, and tears resulted in victory when the district court approved racial segregation laws!
While a lot of the African American community unfortunately suffered and even were killed for this movement, the Montgomery Bus Boycott movement launched as one of the most prominent and most prevalent mass movements that African Americans ever faced in history! All because of the brave Rosa Parks, who decided to take a stand and change history!
When equality for women became legal, women were able to show the world that disabilities were, in fact, ABILITIES.
Maria Shriver
Another woman who impacted history significantly is the former First Lady of California, Maria Shriver. She believed in supporting people who lived with intellectual disABILITIES and advocating for women with Alzheimer’s.
Advocating for so many different people who lived with such disABILITIES, she continued her mother’s work by becoming a co-founder of the International Board of Special Olympics. She changed how the world saw those with disABILITIES!
The Special Olympics allows people with different disABILITIES to receive training, participate in sports, and activities that were part of the Olympic competitions.
In addition to this, Maria has hired a lot of people who have intellectual disABILITIES with her First Lady privileges, allowing disabled people to be able to do their part in the world and make a difference as well!
She also supports people who live with intellectual disABILITIES by raising millions for them with her bike ride program, Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle.
Maria also has a passion for helping women who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. She founded The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement – a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness regarding women’s considerable risk for Alzheimer’s, and she educates the world on lifestyle changes that were necessary to really protect the health of the brain.
She continues to raise awareness by holding campaigns and events every year in which she raises millions of dollars, which are donated to research for women’s Alzheimers. She wants the world to really understand the horrible disease, how to prevent it, possibly cure it, and how to support those who live with it.
Maria’s passion is to give special people the ability to feel truly special and included – both physical and intellectual – and in doing so, she changed so much for those who suffer or live with disABILITIES.
In my new anthology, Dust to Salvation, and my children’s book, Anthony’s Way, I AM ME!, I share more about my own story and experience with a child with special needs and how it has impacted my life.
So many different women have changed the world and impacted it significantly! It is truly amazing how much of an effect women have had on this world and continue to do so.
Consider Greta Thunberg, whose passion for saving the planet led to her bravely speaking out assertively with confidence about what is killing the Earth and what to do about it – all at the early age of 17.
Another important modern woman to consider who is continues to change the world is Oprah Winfrey. She has helped many people with selfless gifts and gave them hope with the actions she did in her heart-warming show. People admire and feel uplifted by Oprah.
She changed America by courageously and vulnerably sharing her story of being molested as a child, which then encouraged and prompted other women to do the same – which helped free them emotionally. She was there for others in a way like no other talk show host ever has!
And that’s just a handful of incredible women who have made history and continue to make a difference in the world!
You see, God has chosen to work with many different women in this world, and in doing so, the world has been shown hope, love, inclusion, and so much more!
God created us all equally and unique in our own way. He has shown the world that women have a lot to offer to be the change that needed to happen in the world! He allowed them to be the change the world never expected!
The change isn’t over – women have more to give to the world in ways that we haven’t even considered yet!
Share in the comments below: Who is ONE woman you admire because of how they changed the world and why?