It’s no secret that throughout history, women have had to work twice as hard as men to assert themselves. Given the privilege that men have always enjoyed, women had to gather their strength and work twice as hard for the changes they wanted to make in the world.
These 10 powerful women have shaped the course of history with their intelligence, strength, passion, and leadership qualities. They have challenged the status quo, made lasting reforms, and many have ruled over their countries for decades, ushering in prosperity and cultural revolutions.
While this list is certainly subjective, we tried to take into consideration the actual power and the impact of each person. So, here are 10 of the women who have impressed us, over time, with their actions and the mark they’ve made on history:
If we don’t want to reduce the number to 10, I’d also include Harriet Tubman.
I’d replace Diana with Elizabeth I.
On the basis of Lincoln calling her “the little lady who started the big war” and because “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was a worldwide bestseller that sold more copies world wide in English and in translations, I would also include Harriet Beecher Stowe. And because Hanna Arendt included her in her book “Men in Dark Times,” I would also include Rosa Luxemberg. And what about Florence Nightingale and Margaret Sanger?