From the beginning of time, certain women—Catherine the Great, Golda Meir, Nancy Pelosi, Margaret Thatcher, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and others—have been beacons, inspiring those who followed to ?ght against injustice and for ultimate equality. They often risked their own lives to shatter barriers and challenge expectations, because they believed that they could bring about a change for the better.

The circumstances of their times brought out a passion, heroism, determination, dedication, talent, and feminine sensibility in these con?dent women, who would stand on the stage of history and ?ght for the political rights of their sisters. These women often su?ered persecution, slander, grief, heartbreak, and imprisonment to achieve their ends. They were laughed at, scorned, ridiculed—and worse.

Here, the inspirational stories of how these extraordinary women have created and demanded change are gathered, in the hopes of inspiring their modern-day sisters to follow in their footsteps.