10 Women Who Changed the World

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich famously said that “well-behaved women rarely make history”, which is true of these trailblazing and inspirational women who have made waves, pushed boundaries, and fundamentally changed the world we live in. From space exploration to computer programming, their accomplishments have shaped our world, but they also continue to inspire us to shape our future.

Born a slave in 1862, Ida B. Wells devoted her life to educating people about the horrors of discrimination and lynching. As editor and co-owner of The Memphis Free Speech, she channeled the power of the written word to awaken the nation's consciousness about the treatment of African Americans.

In the early 20th century, the ancient Indian dance form of bharatanatyam was dying out until Arundale came along. She opened several schools, including the Kalakshetra Foundation, an arts school that specialized in bharatanatyam, saving the tradition from obscurity.

Sylvia Rivera was a pioneering activist who fought tirelessly for transgender rights. An advocate for LGBTQ+ people, ethnic minorities, and the homeless, Rivera dedicated her life to helping others, also co-creating the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries organisation.

Lenglen picked up her first racket in 1910 and, in less than five years, became the sport’s youngest champion and the world’s first female tennis star. More importantly, she broke down barriers through her passionate play, non-traditional wardrobe, and outspoken stance against the sport’s formalities. With Lenglen’s influence, tennis became a sport for all.

Lina Bo Bardi was a pioneering Modernist architect who designed many iconic buildings, including The Glass House, where she lived with her husband. The São Paulo Museum of Art, an architectural masterpiece with its innovative floating gallery, was also complemented by the floating picture frames that Bo Bardi designed for the interior.

After earning her doctorate from the University of Istanbul, Cambel fought tirelessly for the advancement of archaeology and helped to preserve some of Turkey’s most important archaeological sites. She also became the first Muslim woman to compete in the Olympic Games in 1936.

Makeba found success in the US with her hit songs “Pata Pata” and “The Click Song”, and she used her newfound fame to draw attention to the suffering and oppression of South Africa under apartheid. Makeba was exiled from South Africa for over 30 years, but continually worked to improve the lives of her countrymen and women.

Lovelace is recognised as the world's first ever computer programmer. She was an English mathematician and writer who worked on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. All the way back in 1843, she imagined a machine capable of extraordinary things, nearly a century before the first modern computers were built.

When Ride blasted off aboard the NASA space shuttle Challenger on June 18, 1983, she became the first American woman to fly in space. Ride's historic flight made her a symbol of the ability of women to break barriers and a hero to generations of adventurous young girls.

Primarily known for her self-portraits and vivid depictions of her own body, Kahlo is revered for the way in which she captured female experience and embodiment in her artworks. Her paintings melded pain and passion, suffering and beauty, to powerful effect.