Throughout history, women have played inspiring roles in changing society for ensuring the development of humanity by wielding their power and influence. These influential women are extremely intelligent, powerful, and inspirational in fighting for racial equality and women’s rights besides supporting developmental activities in various fields.
List of Influential Women
The list of influential women in history is pretty long, as they have played decisive roles in changing the world. Women have left indelible marks with their immense contributions from science to politics and from literature to aviation to space exploration. They have been pioneers and rule-breakers who could become role models in various fields and etched their names in history. Many names come to mind when trying to name the most influential women.
Here are some women who became historical figures worldwide.
Anne Frank
Anne Frank was a German teenage girl of Jewish origin who created the most poignant, powerful, and honest account of World War II. During the zenith of Hitler’s regime, Anne’s family moved between Germany and Austria to escape the wrath of the Nazis. The family went into hiding throughout the war but was finally caught and sent to a concentration camp in 1944. In ‘The Diary of Anne Frank,’ Anne captured the vivid details of her life as a fugitive and the ordeals she faced as a prisoner in the concentration camp. Her graphic portrayal of humanity’s most fateful moments helped sensitize the world and educate people. It helped to reaffirm our faith and cherish the human values filled with love, passion, emotion, fear, despair, and strength. Anne remains among the most influential women of all time.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is a notable name among the influential women in American history. A singer, poet, civil rights activist, and memoirist, Maya carved her name in history by her deeds as she fought against racial discrimination and prejudices throughout her life. She had a difficult childhood replete with humiliation and assaults that she had to face even later in life. Her memoir, ‘I know why a caged bird sings,’ was an award-winning best seller, and she made history as an African American female writer. She has been a loud voice in the civil rights movement and embodiment of courage and conviction in the fight against oppression and racial abuse.
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was an Algerian-born Roman Catholic who spent her entire life in Calcutta, India, serving the poorest of the poor. She devoted her life to bringing hope to the down-trodden who could barely manage a meal and hand to live under the open sky left to God’s mercy. Mother Teresa started her selfless service by moving to India at the tender age of 12. She created homes for the destitute and lepers discarded by society with no one to look after them. Her organization, ‘The Missionaries of Charity’ received massive worldwide support from 90 countries and continued her work after she died in 1997.
Recipient of the Nobel Peace prize in 1979, Mother Teresa is among the influential women of the twentieth century.