Women's History Month and the Top 10 Women Of Our Time
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Jejune is honoring ten women of our generation that are making a difference both inside and outside of their respective industries. The list includes musicians, athletes, activists, politicians, humanitarians, and designers that are going above and beyond their field of work. Although we have come a long way for female equality here in the U.S., women across the world are still struggling to achieve the same equality. As the month of March comes to a close, our hope is that the strong women of this generation and that of the next follow in the footsteps of the strong women listed below in order to promote a better world.
Dolly Parton
Who They Are: Dolly Parton is a singer-songwriter, business woman, and philanthropist based in Nashville, Tennessee. She is best known for her career in country music, with hit tracks like '9 to 5,' 'Jolene,' and 'I Will Always Love You.'
What They Are Doing: On top of her music career, Parton is also heavily involved in a number of philanthropic efforts. In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University for COVID-19 research and to help fund the Moderna vaccine. She founded the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 to inspire the children in her home county to graduate high school. In 1995, the Foundation implemented Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Sevier County, Tennessee. The program sent free books to kids from birth to age 5 originally in her hometown of Sevier County, TN. The monthly book gifting program has since turned into an international movement with influence in Canada, Great Britain, Australia and most recently the Republic of Ireland.
Fun Fact: Parton recently tried to bow out of her nomination for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, claiming she wasn’t worthy — maybe one of the most rockstar moves the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as ever seen! So much so, that they have decided to decline her request to be removed. I know she has my vote!
Malala Yousafzai
Who They Are: Malala Yousafzai was born and raised in Mingora, Pakistan. Her father was a teacher and ran an all girls school in their village, but that all changed when the Taliban took control of their village in 2008. Malala began speaking out publicly on behalf of girls and their right to learn, making her a direct target of the Taliban. In 2012, a masked gunman stopped her on her way from school and shot her on the left side of my head. Malala survived this deadly attack and relocated with her family to the UK, where she decided to embrace this second life she had been given and continue to advocate for girls education.
What They Are Doing: In 2014, Malala and her father established the Malala Fund, a charity that gives girls the opportunity to achieve the future they have chosen. In recognition of her work with the Malala Fund, she received the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2014 and became the youngest-ever Nobel laureate. Since its inception in 2014, Malala has traveled to many countries to meet girls fighting poverty, wars, child marriage and gender discrimination to go to school. They also invest in country educators and activists through Malala Fund’s Education Champion Network.
Fun Fact: Malala graduated from Oxford University in 2020 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. She continues her fight for girls education post graduation. She is also working on a slate of dramas and documentaries for AppleTV.
Greta Thunberg
Who They Are: Greta Thunberg is an environmental activist from Stockholm, Sweden. She works tirelessly to educate world leaders on climate change. Thunberg first learned about the issue when she was eight years old, and she encouraged her parents to embrace a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. She began to change her own habits as well, becoming a vegan and refusing to travel by plane as both livestock and airplanes emit a large amount of carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. She famously traveled to a UN Climate event in New York City on an emissions free yacht in September 2019. Her speech at this same event drew a lot of attention as she delivered the impassioned comments, "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words…We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money... how dare you!"
What They Are Doing: In 2018 Thunberg founded a movement known as Fridays for the Future, also known as School Strike for the climate. Prior to the Swedish election in 2018, she skipped school for three weeks to sit outside the country’s parliament with a sign that stated “Skolstrejk för Klimatet” (School Strike for Climate). Each day she was joined by more and more people, and her activism gained international attention. After the election, Thunberg continued to participate in Fridays for the Future. Her actions inspired students around the world and similar strikes were held in Belgium, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, France, and the Netherlands. Throughout 2019 she was invited to speak at various world conferences to promote environmental responsibility to world leaders. The Year of Greta website provides a detailed timeline of her activism during this time, plus her Time Magazine Person of the Year cover in 2019. Thunberg still actively participates in Fridays for the Future and has also advocated for peace in Ukraine.
Fun Fact: Thunberg was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, which is now considered an autism spectrum disorder. People with Asperger syndrome convey normal intelligence and language development, but are faced with abnormalities in social interactions. They also tend to hypeR fixate on one idea or cause, and Thunberg's cause has become educating the world on climate change. On top of her environmental work, Thunberg is an advocate for those with Asperger syndrome.
Michelle Obama
Who They Are: Former First Lady Michelle Obama is a lawyer, author, and the wife of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. Before becoming First Lady, Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a juris doctor degree from Harvard Law School. She returned to her hometown of Chicago in 1988 where she met Barack Obama and started her work in public service. Her family was the first African-American family in office. Her four main initiatives while her husband was in office was advocating for healthy families, service members and their families, higher education, and international adolescent girls education. She has continued to advocate for these four main areas even after leaving office.
What They Are Doing: As First Lady, Michelle initiated the Let's Move! program to end childhood obesity within the current generation. Government and local officials were encouraged to bring healthy and affordable food into undeserved communities, provide opportunities for kids to be active, and plant vegetable gardens around America. Michelle also spearheaded the Reach Higher Initiative to help students realize job opportunities and the education and skills they need for these jobs. She is also an international advocate for women and girls education. The Obamas created the government initiative Let Girls Learn to help adolescents girls obtain a quality education. Outside of the office, Michelle Obama created When We All Vote with celebrity co-chairs Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, Selena Gomez, and more. The initiative works to register new voters across the country and enhance civic education. In 2020, the When We All Vote campaign educated more than 100 million people about the voting process and got them registered to vote.
Fun Fact: Michelle Obama published her memoir 'Becoming' in 2018. The autobiography follows her beginnings in Chicago, her time in the White House, and her role as a mother in the public eye. From the book came the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary, the Michelle Obama podcast, and an adaption for young readers.
Stella McCartney
Who They Are: Stella McCartney is an English fashion designer and daughter of rock legend Paul McCartney. She grew up between London and an organic farm on the English countryside where her mother, the late Linda McCartney, taught her the importance of caring for the environment. Stella created her namesake brand in 2001 in a joint venture with Kering. As a lifelong vegetarian and environmental advocate, her brand has been committed to sustainability since the beginning and has never used real leather or furs. Stella McCartney's collections range from ready-to-wear for women, men, accessories, lingerie, eyewear, perfumes, and a line for children.
What They Are Doing: From 2001 to now, Stella and her brand have lobbied the fashion industry to eliminate leather and fur from apparel production. Not only is it non-ethical, but the carbon emissions produced from using these materials are harming the environment. In 2021, Stella and her team exhibited the “Future of Fashion: An innovation conversation with Stella McCartney” at COP26. The exhibit educated world leaders on material innovations within the fashion industry with the incentive to promote more nature-positive investments. Recently, Stella McCartney's Summer 2022 campaign introduces Mushrooms as the future of both our planet and the fashion industry. The brand notes that 90% of fungi is undocumented despite it's importance in eco-systems and potential for innovations in medicine, food, and materials. The fungi provides a vegan alternative that can be regenerated quickly and ethically. At the Summer 2022 runway show, Stella presented the Frayme Mylo™️, which is the world’s first-ever luxury bag crafted from verified vegan, certified bio-based mycelium (mushroom) leather alternative. It will be available to purchase later this year.
Fun Fact: In March 2022, Stella created a regenerative wool pantsuit for Minnie Mouse to wear in celebration of Women's History Month and Disneyland Paris' 30th Anniversary. Inspired by Minnie Mouse's symbol of femininity, Stella also created a shirt made out of organic cotton with the character meditating over Earth with the slogan "Divine Femininity." A portion of proceeds from this collection was donated to CARE — which provides emergency resources for women, children, elderly, and families in Ukraine.
Serena Williams
Who They Are: Serena Williams is an American professional tennis player, widely known as the greatest of all time in her sport. She has won 23 grand slam titles, the most of all time. Off the court, she is a dedicated mother, wife, and sister. She welcomed her first child, Olympia, in 2017 with husband Alexis Ohanian. Serena is also the youngest of five girls; her older sister Venus Williams is also an accredited tennis player and often Serena's opponent on the court.
What They Are Doing: On top of her prolific tennis career, Serena has a distinct passion for design. She attended fashion school in between competing for grand slams and opened her own line in 2018, titled S by Serena. She also launched a jewelry line in 2019 inspired by life's authentic milestones. Serena is also focused on investing in companies that embrace diverse leadership. Her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, works to effect change in the financial investments sector. Her philanthropic efforts include The Yetunde Price Resource Center, which was founded by the Williams family to ensure that those who have been affected by trauma has the resources necessary to flourish. The program offers healing centered and trauma-informed programs around Compton, Ca, where the family is based.
Fun Fact: During the pandemic, Serena partnered with Masks for Kids and Instacart to help those that were struggling. In her campaign with Masks for Kids, she teamed up with BELLA+CANVAS to donate 4 million masks to kids in undeserved school districts. With Instacart, her campaign supported Feeding America's programs to fight hunger in struggling communities. She personally donated the first 50,000 meals, and promoted the work throughout her social media platforms.
Simone Biles
Who They Are: Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast in the history of the sport, with 32 medals from the World Championship and seven medals from the Olympics. On top of that she is also the first American woman to win seven national all-around titles and the first female gymnast to earn three consecutive World All-Around titles. She has received recognition by TIME 100 Most Influential, Forbes 30 Under 30, and USA Today 100 Women of the Century, among others. Simone trains at the World Champions Centre (WCC), a gym founded and owned by her parents Ron and Nellie in Spring, Texas.
What They Are Doing: Simone uses her platform to advocate for initiatives associated with adoption and child care. As a child, Simone and her three siblings were placed in foster care after her biological mother was reluctant to care for them. In her series "Simone vs. Herself" on Facebook Watch, Biles explains the long bought of hunger her and her siblings faced as a child. Thankfully, Simone and her sister Adria were adopted by her maternal grandparents, while her other two siblings were adopted by their father's sister. Biles views this as a turning point in her life and credits her parents Ron and Nellie for helping her grow into the person she is today. In light of these memories, Biles partners with Mattress Firm Foster Kids where she contributes to the donation-driven program and gives items like clothes and school supplies to foster parents and kids.
Fun Fact: At the postponed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Simone Biles shocked the world when she pulled out of vault and bar finals due to mental health struggles. Since then she has become a mental health advocate for athletes and people alike, inspiring a trend of mental wellness. She is an ambassador for the mental health app Cerebral, which she admits to using herself to promote mental wellness. Additionally, in September of 2021 Biles, along with fellow gymnasts McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols and Aly Raisman, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the FBI's handling of sexual abuse claims against former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. Despite everything that she has been through, Biles is proud to advocate for survivors of sexual assault.
Angelina Jolie
Who They Are: Angelina Jolie is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. She has received numerous accolades for her work in film including an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards. She is the mother to six children. She has three biological children: Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox; and three adopted children: Maddox, Pax and Zahara with former husband Brad Pitt.
What They Are Doing: Jolie is an ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Jolie previously represented UNHCR as a Goodwill Ambassador from 2001-2012 before becoming a special envoy in April of 2012. Since then, she has worked on major crises that result in mass population displacements and represented UNHCR at the diplomatic level. Through her work she has also collaborated with decision makers on global displacement issues and contributed to the process of finding solutions and housing for those forced to leave their homes. Most recently, Jolie was in Yemen meeting with refugees displaced by the conflict within the country. While there she visited an informal settlement with 130 families, only 20 of whom were receiving food aid. She also visited a school where there was no food, no supplies, and no salary for teachers. In a letter to the UN, Jolie implored world leaders to offer their support and end the conflict in Yemen. While this is her most recent documented trip, Jolie has also provided statements on various crises throughout her time as an envoy.
Fun Fact: Jolie and Pitt's three adopted children Maddox, Zahara, and Pax are adopted from Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Vietnam respectively. Jolie's MJP foundation was established in 2003 as a conservation and community development program in the Samlout Protected Area. The foundation's vision is to alleviate extreme rural poverty, protect the environment and conserve wildlife in rural northwestern Cambodia. They support vulnerable families and communities in this area and develop valuable partnerships to promote the livelihoods of the local communities.
Stacey Abrams
Who They Are: Stacey Abrams was born in Gulfport, Mississippi. She was one of six children and her parents were steadfast in seeking the best possible educational opportunities, which led them to move to Georgia. Abrams holds degrees from Spelman College, the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and Yale Law School. She ran for Governor of Georgia in 2018, and although she did not win, she was not discouraged from making a difference. She played a prominent role in Georgia Democrats’ historic 2020 and 2021 Senate runoff victories by founding top national voting rights organizations focused on legislation, litigation and advocacy. She also got more voters to the polls by funding two dozen grassroots organizations that mobilize voters of color in Georgia.
What They Are Doing: Stacey Abrams is once again running for Governor of Georgia in 2022.She has previously served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017, and served as a minority leader from 2011 to 2017. She was the first women to lead either party in Georgia State Legislature and the first black Georgian to lead in the House of Representatives. Her executive and public service experience includes founding and implementing strategic plans for New Georgia Project, advocating for minority voter registration; Fair Fight Action and Fair Fight PAC, protecting voting rights; and Fair Count, which encouraged meaningful participation in the Census and civic engagement.
Fun Fact: Stacey Abrams is a New York Times bestselling author for her work in fiction and nonfiction categories. She is also the CEO of Sage Works Productions, a production company in Georgia with several projects under development, including with CBS Studios and NBC/Universal. The company’s first film, All In: The Fight for Democracy, made the 2020 Oscar shortlist for best documentary. She is an advocate for the workers in Georgia’s vibrant film and television industry. During the pandemic, she convinced film executives to continue local productions and keep jobs in Georgia.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Who They Are: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known by her initials AOC, is an American politician and activist. She is a member of the Democratic Party and has represented New York's 14th congressional district- the Bronx and Queens- since 2019. AOC was born in the Bronx to working class parents. She studied Economics and International Relations at Boston University. During her sophomore year of college she tragically lost her father to cancer. The huge medical bills left an impression on her and she began to seek a career in public service, She came back to the Bronx and worked in education and community organizing. After the election of Donald Trump in 2016 and a trip to the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, AOC was pushed to run for Congress. Despite being a political longshot, she won the election in 2019 and became the youngest women in history to serve in Congress.
What They Are Doing: AOC's platform revolves around key issues such as Medicare for All, housing as a human right, real public safety, honor in immigration, a just recovery for Puerto Rico, and elevating public education. AOC also has proposed and is a continuous advocate for the Green New Deal. The Green New Deal will create millions of high wage jobs while expanding and upgrading renewable power sources, building energy-efficient power grids, and investing in zero-emission manufacturing and infrastructure. The Green New Deal also offers support for communities of color and a just transition for current workers and communities within the fossil fuel industry.
Fun Fact: On top of the Green New Deal and the key issues listed above, AOC supports a peace economy, justice for workers and small businesses, women and LGBTQIA+ rights, and aging with dignity. She has been a starch advocate for women’s rights in particular, believing that women’s rights are human rights and that all women deserve access to workplace safety, equal pay, paid parental leave, and full access to healthcare. AOC firmly supports the Women's Health Protection Act, the Paycheck Fairness Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in conjunction with these values.
Happy Women’s History Month! Here is to the strong women of the past, present, and future.
