Celebrating Women Making History Today from Athletes to Nobel Prize Winners

By Kelli Wilhite, Government Relations Intern

During Women's History Month, the National Organization for Women celebrated the lives of the countless women throughout time whose endeavors advanced equality for women.

Women whose work we honor include Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Audre Lorde, Gloria Steinem, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Dolores Huerta, Emma Tenayuca, Alice Paul, the women of the 1977 Houston Conference and so on. However, while we honor these women, we can also look all around us and find legions of women making history today.

While so much has been accomplished within the past hundred years, there is still so much that needs to be accomplished today. Luckily, multitudes of women out there fight and work for women and our empowerment everyday, nationally and globally. Below are just a few women who break barriers and make progress today for future generations.

Giving Indie Rock a Feminist Vibe

She is an outspoken, energetic feminist who is not afraid to let you know her thoughts on abortion, feminism, racism, sexual violence and the Bush administration. At age 16, after her parents' divorce, Difranco became an emancipated teen and moved to New York City on her own. She later went on to start her own record label, Righteous Babe Records, after learning that signing up with major recording labels would restrict the content of her album's messages.

She is an outspoken, energetic feminist who is not afraid to let you know her thoughts on abortion, feminism, racism, sexual violence and the Bush administration. At age 16, after her parents' divorce, Difranco became an emancipated teen and moved to New York City on her own. She later went on to start her own record label, Righteous Babe Records, after learning that signing up with major recording labels would restrict the content of her album's messages.

With only 32 percent of eligible 18 to 24 year-olds voting in the 2000 presidential election, Difranco sought to increase voter turnout in 2004. She organized the Vote Dammit Tour that canvassed 14 states with the goal of 100 percent voter registration at each concert venue. While her efforts didn't win the election, she did help to empower thousands of voters and involve them in the democratic process, increasing the number of young voters overall—a success in and of itself!

Making Change One Tree at a Time

Women also continue to effect change across the globe. Wangari Maathai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, the first African woman to receive the award, for her years of environmental work in Africa. She now holds the post of Deputy Environment Minister of Kenya, it was not easy getting there.

In 1971, Maathai earned a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine at the University of Nairobi despite the skepticism of male colleagues and professors. She continued her research there and eventually became the first woman director of any department at the university. She started the Green Belt Movement in 1977 to combat the deforestation spreading across the continent, starting with nine tree seeds in her own yard.

Today more than 30 million trees have been planted by the women of Africa, thanks to Maathai's efforts. She openly fought the government's policy on the environment. Her struggles included a hunger strike, multiple arrests and multiple beatings. She now fights to help shape not only her nation, but the entire world.

Breaking World Records in Athletics

Women around the world continue to break world records in athletics—something once thought to be out of women's league because of their "frailty." Women athletes broke 15 world records at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, in competitions like track and field, weightlifting, cycling and archery. (For the record, male athletes broke only six world records at last summer's games.) Also for the first time in history, a woman was allowed to compete in the ancient Olympic arena in Athens.

Inspiring Activism Through Film

A recent Georgetown graduate, now pursuing a master's degree in women's studies at George Washington University, creates a buzz wherever she goes in the nation's capital. Joylynn Holder has been showing her recently finished film, "A One-Eyed Hope," to audiences all over the Washington, D.C. area.

The film discusses the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic among African-American women in D.C. The remarkable film not only highlights the problem, but shows viewers how to get involved in the fight against AIDS/HIV.

Holder will travel to Australia this summer to work on another film that focuses on problems in prison systems in the U.S. and Australia. For more information, visit the film's web site.

It's important to thank and remember the women who have paved the way, and who continue to set an example for our work, yet we must also embrace and empower the many extraordinary women who are dedicating their lives to achieving equality for generations of women to come.