History
Throughout history, women have been leading, writing, and sharing the ideas we now attribute to feminism. Check out the women below who began feminist movements in their countries and cultures:
Minoan Women of Ancient Crete
Hatchepsut
Christine De Pizan was a French writer in the middle ages.
Olympe De Gouges
Victoria Woodhull
Alexandra Kollontai
Jeanette Rankin was the first female United States senator. Elected in 1918, Jeanette made it to the Senate two years before women in the United States got the right to vote! She continued to advocate for women in the Senate as she pushed forward legislation to fund health clinics and midwife services which reduced infant mortality rates. She advocated for peace throughout her life, leading a brigade of 5,000 women to protest the Vietname war in 1968, and voting against entering WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (the only member of Congress to do so). She passed away in 1973. Learn more about Jeanette. 
Golda Meir was the first female prime minister of Israel, elected in 1969. She played a large part in the creation of Israel, and was ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1948. A member of Israel's labor party, Golda took the position as prime minister after the death of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol. She resigned from office in 1973, and passed away five years later. She remains a beloved figure and role model. Learn more about Golda.
Benazir Bhutto was the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of a Muslim state. She served as prime minister of Pakistan twice, and was first sworn into office in 1998, when she was only thirty-five. She was removed from office almost two years later on charges of corruption. Her popularity with the people ca
used her to be re-elected in 1993, only to be removed once again from office. She went into exile, but returned to Pakistan in October of 2007. Although much of Pakistan loved Benazir, her concern for women's social and health issues, as well as her campaign for equal rights for women was viewed negatively by many in the Muslim community. Benazir was aware of the risk she took in returning to Pakistan in 2007, however she went anyway. As she waved to a crowd of fans in December, 2007, a gunman shot Benazir and killed her. She was forty-five. Conflict over her death remains a sore spot in Pakistan still.
Margaret Thatcher was the first female prime minister of Great Britain.
Hillary Clinton was the first serious female candidate for president in the United States.
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