At The Better Normal, ahead of International Women’s Day, we want to shine a spotlight on these 6 women who, from their places of privilege, choose to speak up for women’s rights. It’s important that these voices, with a strong presence in the media, use their platforms to advocate for those of us who don’t always have a space to be heard.
Their stories are bold and invaluable. Talking about gender inequality through the lens of feminism isn’t easy these days. These women understand their responsibility as public figures and embrace their role. Today, we’re applauding them and putting them forward as examples. While there are many more amazing women doing this work, today we’re highlighting a few that we simply admire.
The Importance of Speaking Up For Women’s Rights
Women’s rights are human rights. Throughout history, it’s been women fighting tirelessly for our rights. From the right to vote, equal pay, legal equality, reproductive rights, and the freedom to live without violence, the list continues. To this day, women continue to fight for these rights to be respected.
But as Amnesty International highlights, many women and girls around the world still face discrimination based on their gender. Gender inequality is at the core of many issues that disproportionately affect women and girls, such as domestic and sexual violence, lower wages, lack of access to education, and inadequate healthcare.
That’s why those of us with access to basic rights and the ability to speak up have a responsibility to raise our voices—not just for ourselves, but for those who’ve been silenced. If we don’t fight for our rights, no one else will.
Here are 6 contemporary famous feminists you should know:
1. Emma Watson
I’m sure there are many Potterheads in this community. If you’re like me, you probably fell in love with Emma Watson since Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. But Emma didn’t just win our hearts as the brilliant Hermione Granger—she also became a powerful advocate for gender equality. In 2014, Emma launched the HeForShe campaign for the UN.
In her speech, she said: “I think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights. No country in the world can yet say they have achieved gender equality. These rights I consider to be human rights but I am one of the lucky ones.”
2. Viola Davis
The incredible award-winning actress has shone on the big screen in films like Fences, The Help, How to Get Away With Murder, and many others. But she has also used her platform as a woman of color to deliver strong, impactful speeches about women’s rights.
At Variety’s Power of Women New York event in 2018, Viola Davis talked about the #MeToo movement: “The conversation that people need to have is what sexual assault does to that individual. The moment that sexual assault happens and the trauma happens, how it spirals into side effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, drug addiction, rage issues, body dismorphic issues.”
She also spoke about the specific vulnerabilities of black women: “If you can imagine, if you can wrap your mind around it, there is a rung lower that people see than being a woman. And it’s being a woman of color.”
3. Lady Gaga
I stand up to speak about the queen. The one and only Lady Gaga. She accompanied many of us during our teenage years. However, her art still travels the world today, transmitting a message of resilience and acceptance.
Lady Gaga is the epitome of a woman who rose high because of her strength. She has openly shared that she is a survivor of sexual abuse. Since the start of her career, she has used her art to promote women’s empowerment and support for the LGBTQ+ community.
In addition, she founded the Born This Way Foundation, which has worked for over 12 years to empower young people and create a kinder, braver world that supports mental wellness.
4. Jane Fonda
What’s fascinating about Jane Fonda’s journey is how openly she shared her path to feminism. She admitted that she didn’t fully understand what feminism was at first. It’s important that these experiences are visible to women who may be going through a similar process, so they know there’s no one way to be a feminist and each path is unique.
In an interview with Elle, the Academy Award-winner said: “I didn’t understand the women’s movement at first, I just thought ‘Well this is a waste of time, they should be focusing on ending the war.’ But as I got to know these activist women I realized that we live in a system that denigrates women and puts men on a pedestal – and that was not totally unconnected to the Vietnam War. Patriarchy and war go together.”
At 87, Jane Fonda is still standing up for our rights. At the recent SAG Awards on February 23, she delivered a clear and impactful speech linking politics to her role as an actress. She expressed: “‘Woke’ just means you give a damn about other people.”
5. Madonna
As the Queen of Pop, singer and actress Madonna has always made her voice heard. From her art, Madonna has expressed her views on women’s liberation and remains a global icon of feminism. In 1990, Caryn James called her “the most influential feminist of the day,” and even today, she’s cited in academic texts as a major figure of female independence.
At the 2016 Billboard Women in Music Awards, in her Women of the Year acceptance speech, Madonna said: “As women, we have to start appreciating our own worth and each other’s worth. Seek out strong women to befriend, to align yourself with, to learn from, to collaborate with, to be inspired by, to support, and enlightened by.”
6. Tarana Burke
Tarana Burke, activist, community organizer, and executive, is the courageous founder of the #MeToo movement. In 2017, TIME Magazine named Burke and other “Silence Breakers” as Person of the Year.
Much of what we hear about the #MeToo Movement focuses on individual acts of abuse, but Burke reminds us that power and privilege can be used to serve others, not destroy them. Her message is clear: “We have to re-educate ourselves and our children to understand that power and privilege doesn’t always have to destroy and take – it can be used to serve and build.”
Burke has given us a path to follow in how we can stand up against abuse, empower one another, and make a change.
These women, through their voices and actions, continue to light the way for women’s rights around the world. Let’s celebrate their courage and carry their work forward. Click here to read more inspiring stories of strong women we celebrate today and every day.
