50 of the world’s most admired female figures

“A revolutionary feminist who forced British parliament to change the legal age of prostitutes from 13 to 16, Josephine Butler helped advance women’s opportunities in education and employment and brought forth the hypocrisy of male morality on women through the Contagious Diseases Act.” – Renee Mellinda

“She was the catalyst who set in motion a series of interconnected events that gave a revolutionary twist to the 20th century’s last two decades – and helped end the millennium on a note of hope and confidence. She championed free minds and markets, helped topple the welfare state and made the world safer for capitalism.” – Denise Wagner

“Encouraged intellectually by her father, Emma Hart Willard began teaching children and continued her own education. The school she started trained generations of teachers who took her message of intellectual and educational rights for women throughout America. By opening the doors of education to women, other higher education institutions became co-educational and made advanced education for women economically viable and socially acceptable. Her vision of intellectual equality was exported around the world, making schools and universities around the world become open to women.” – Casey Jensen

“Although Edward Jenner was credited for the smallpox vaccine, it was really Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who pioneered the approach in western Europe and made it acceptable to the influential, rich and powerful. Hundreds of millions of people owe their lives and health to her. Despite being born into wealth and nobility, her deep love of learning inspired her to introduce into England the Turkish practice of inoculating healthy children with a weakened smallpox strain to confer immunity from more virulent strains.” – David Cantarell

“The computers everyone uses and couldn’t live without today are possible in very large part due to Grace Murray Hopper’s ground-breaking work in helping develop the first commercially viable computer. Its development made the computer a viable product and she continued her pioneering work on machine computation throughout her life, publishing more than 50 papers and receiving numerous honorary degrees.” – Lorraine Buddle

“As the pioneer of the contraceptive pill she helped develop, Margaret Sanger’s crusade to legalise birth control spurred the movement for women’s liberation. She never abandoned her focus on women’s freedom and its larger implications for social justice. By living as if she and everyone else had the right to control their own life, she pioneered by her word and deed the 20th century’s most radical, humane and transforming political movement.” – John Coleshill

“She blazed paths for women and led the battle for social justice everywhere. She remains a powerful inspiration to civil rights and women’s movement leaders, because she shattered her ceremonial mould, reshaped it around her deep commitment to social reform, and gave a voice to people who didn’t have access to power.” – Malisa Huxley

“Michelle Obama has done so much to give strength to females, putting her support behind worthy charities and organisations. Amazing woman!” – Jane Lee

“Michelle Obama. Never once has she had a scandal and always stayed by the side of her man while creating a better world for all.” – – Daniela Agresta

“Ellen DeGeneres because she stands up strongly for what she believes in, and even though she is 60 she still knows how to have fun!” – Rachel Kapsalakis

“One of Australia’s first suffragettes, who fought for gender equality in what was a man’s world, it was through her (and other suffragettes) that in 1894 South Australian women won the vote, followed by Western Australia. By 1911 all Australian states had followed suit. Catherine Spence stood for office in 1897.” – Margaret McKee