When people think of women in history, there are so many names that come to mind. Women have been on the forefront of medicine, science, politics, business, you name it. It was difficult to narrow it down to just a few leaders who have broken barriers in their respective fields. But, these twentieth century groundbreakers have left a mark on history and not just on women’s history.
1. Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II lived from April 21, 1926, to September 8, 2022. When she was born,
it was unlikely that she would ever wear the crown. When her uncle abdicated the throne in 1936, the line of succession shifted, and her father became the king, thus making Princess Elizabeth the heir apparent. At age 27, after the death of her father King George VI, she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II. Her coronation was the first-ever televised. Her reign was marked by transformations of culture and society, ushering in a Golden Age for Britain. She “kept calm” through it all and acted as a symbol of hope and resilience for millions. In 2015, she surpassed Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch in British history with a total reign of 70 years.
2. Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher, or “the Iron Lady,” lived from October 13, 1925, to April 8, 2013. The daughter
of a then-alderman, she displayed an interest in politics early on in her life and went on to study chemistry at the University of Oxford. After gaining a seat in the House of Commons in 1959, she solidified her reputation with legislation and policies over the course of many years, eventually becoming the leader of the Conservative Party in 1975. She earned a decisive victory for the party by becoming the first female Prime Minister of England in 1979, assuming control of the government from the Labor Party. She changed the course of England’s history through her policies centered around national prosperity, advocating for the empowerment of the individual and the reduction of government interference in the private sector. She went on to become the only prime minister to win three consecutive terms in the twentieth century and the longest continuously serving prime minister since 1827.
3. Mother Teresa
St. Teresa of Calcutta, commonly referred to as Mother Teresa, lived from August 27, 1910, to September 5, 1997. The daughter of an ethnic Albanian grocer in what is now the Republic of North Macedonia, she went to Ireland in 1928 to join the Sisters of Loreto. After only six weeks there,
she sailed to India to work as a teacher. After having almost two decades of teaching experience at a school in Kolkata (Calcutta), she received her “call within a call,” as she termed it, devoting her life to service of the poor. She founded the Order of the Missionaries of Charity in 1948 after moving to the slums. Throughout her tenure of altruism in India, she and her order established multiple centers that served marginalized groups. She has been recognized by people and organizations for her outstanding selflessness, including various popes and the Indian government. In 1979, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her humanitarian work. She was beatified by St. John Paul II and canonized by Pope Francis. Her incredible service to others still serves as an example of Christ’s compassion around the world.
4. Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks lived from February 4, 1913, to October 24, 2005. At the age of two, her divorced mother moved her family to live with Rosa’s maternal grandparents on their farm in Pine Level, Alabama.
There, as she was homeschooled by her mother and learned to cook and sew, their family experienced multiple forms of discrimination. Attacks from the KKK were a constant threat in their area, and Jim Crow Laws affected most public services. On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa refused to give up her seat on a bus to white passengers, sparking the seminal Montgomery bus boycott. Under the guidance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the boycott began a few days later and lasted for over a year, with about 70 percent of the participants being African American. Because of Rosa’s bravery in the face of persecution and her determined spirit, she was given the name “mother of the civil rights movement.”
5. Sandra Day O’Connor
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor lived from March 26, 1930, to December 1, 2023. She grew up on her family ranch in Arizona and went to Stanford University for undergraduate and graduate studies.
Despite being denied employment in law firms due to her gender, she attained various positions within the state governments of California and Arizona. During this period, she became the first woman in the country to hold the position of majority leader of a state senate. She was elected a Superior Court judge in Maricopa County, Arizona in 1975, and in 1979, she was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in Phoenix. In 1981, she was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Ronald Reagan and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger sworn her in as the first female to ever serve on the bench of SCOTUS. Her no-nonsense approach and her unwavering commitment to the Constitution continue to inspire other women to pursue careers in the law.
When we look back at the historic achievements of these five women, it is hard not to be in awe of everything that they have accomplished. They have paved the way for countless generations of girls around the world. Whether it is in the fields of law, politics, social justice, or religious life, they have taught us to work hard and to never give up on our dreams. The sky is the limit for every young woman.
References
“Elizabeth II.” Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2024. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Elizabeth-II/32408. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
“Margaret Thatcher.” Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2024. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Margaret-Thatcher/71950. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
“Mother Teresa.” Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 24 Jun. 2024. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Mother-Teresa/71751. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
“Rosa Parks.” Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 10 Sep. 2024. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Rosa-Parks/1689. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
“Sandra Day O’Connor.” Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2024. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Sandra-Day-OConnor/56723. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.