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Breaking Barriers: Women Who Shattered the Glass Ceiling and Inspired Generations

women power

By Raja ShanmugaPublished about a year ago 3 min read
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Breaking Barriers: Women Who Shattered the Glass Ceiling and Inspired Generations
Photo by Rafał Szczawiński on Unsplash

Women have been fighting for equality and breaking barriers for centuries, and their contributions to society have been nothing short of remarkable. From advocating for women's suffrage to becoming trailblazers in traditionally male-dominated fields, these women have shattered the glass ceiling and inspired generations of girls and women to pursue their dreams.

In this article, we will explore the stories of a few exceptional women who have broken barriers and shattered the glass ceiling in their respective fields.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving from 1993 until her death in 2020. She was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court and was a champion of gender equality and women's rights.

Before becoming a justice, Ginsburg was a leading advocate for women's rights and co-founded the Women's Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union. She argued several landmark cases before the Supreme Court, including Reed v. Reed, which challenged sex discrimination in the law.

Ginsburg's legacy lives on as a symbol of the strength and perseverance of women who have broken barriers and fought for gender equality.

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for girls' education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. At the age of 11, she began speaking out against the Taliban's ban on girls' education in her hometown of Swat Valley, Pakistan.

In 2012, Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban while riding a bus to school. She survived the attack and went on to become a global advocate for girls' education. In 2014, she became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Today, Yousafzai continues to advocate for girls' education through the Malala Fund, which works to provide quality education to girls around the world.

Katherine Johnson

Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician who worked for NASA from 1953 to 1986. She played a vital role in the success of several NASA missions, including the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Johnson was part of a team of African American women who were known as "human computers" because they calculated complex mathematical equations by hand. Despite facing discrimination and segregation, Johnson's contributions to space exploration helped break barriers and open doors for women and people of color in the field of STEM.

In 2015, Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres is an American comedian, actress, and television host who has broken barriers as an openly gay woman in the entertainment industry. She began her career in stand-up comedy and went on to star in the popular sitcom Ellen.

In 1997, DeGeneres publicly came out as gay on The Oprah Winfrey Show, becoming one of the first openly gay celebrities in Hollywood. Her decision to come out was met with both praise and criticism, but it paved the way for other LGBTQ+ individuals in the entertainment industry.

Today, DeGeneres is a beloved television host and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is an American media executive, actress, and television host who has broken barriers as one of the most influential women in the entertainment industry. She began her career as a local news anchor and went on to host The Oprah Winfrey Show, which became one of the highest-rated talk shows in television history.

Winfrey has used her platform to advocate for a wide range of issues, including education, mental health, and gender and racial equality. She is also a philanthropist

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Raja Shanmuga

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