Times are changing. Back in the day, men had high status in basically everything, whereas the status of women, most of the time, were way below men. However, this is not the case anymore; women are getting more attention and respect from not just other women, but men as well. And here are some examples:

Political leaders

From the beginning of 2020, the coronavirus spread all around the world and caused a lot of devastation. Many months have passed and each world leader is reacting differently. The countries that are more successfully fighting a path through the pandemic are Taiwan, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Denmark. These countries all have at least one thing in common: female presidents. 

President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen’s leadership of Taiwan in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic has proved that the virus can be controlled with early preparation, being alert and proactive, and also by having regular and transparent updates. Taiwan has been very successful in controlling the spread of the virus even when it located a mere 130 kilometers (110 miles) from mainland China, which is where the coronavirus first broke out. 

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, has made her messages clear, consistent, while somehow simultaneously considerate and empathetic. Prime Minister Ardern imposed the strictest COVID-19-related regulations in the world (when the first COVID-19 patient entered New Zealand, the country went into lockdown), for which she would “make no apologies.” Prime Minister Arden’s empathic but straightforward comments and policies helped the country navigate the coronavirus crisis and set a model not only for the world, but also to all the great leaders out there. 



German Chancellor Angela Merkel led Germany to forge a path of their own, as her scientific background was a foundation for measured, facts-based, evidence-based, and consensus-oriented leadership. 

Iceland reported the lowest confirmed cases and deaths in Europe under the leadership of Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdóttir. She was humble, listened to the science, and most importantly put her ego as a politician aside. 

Every leader is being judged by the path their country is taking. And evidently, countries with female leaders are doing an outstanding job putting their countries back on track using distinct styles, some straightforward, some with empathy, some with scientific knowledge, and much more. 

The main reason behind this, as a Time Magazine article quoted Prime Minister Jakobsdóttir as saying, is that these female leaders are “ready to admit that they are all learning by doing and probably will make mistakes.” She added that “this comes easier to women than men.”

Activists 

There is just so much going on in the world right now: thousands dying from the coronavirus, global warming getting worse than ever, injustice around the world, and just so much more. At the same time, people need to be aware and have a decent knowledge about all these serious issues. This is when activists stand up, for themselves, a certain group of people, or simply just to make the world a better place. 

Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel laureate, was shot in the left side of her head at the age of 11. She is dedicated to giving every girl an opportunity to achieve a future they choose and is still fighting for education and equality. Even though this dreadful incident happened to her, she never ever gave up. 

The Silence Breakers, named by Time Magazine, are leaders, innovators, activists, entertainers, athletes, and artists who defined the last century and stood up for themselves during the Me Too movement. They had the courage to tell society their own stories to fight against “inappropriate, destructive behavior,” and now symbolize a new consciousness of women generally.

Greta Thunberg is a 17-year-old teenage girl that people are intimidated by due to how she can be so powerful at such a young age.She gave a speech to world leaders at the United Nations, sailed around the world, and did much more to inspire an international movement to fight climate change.

Ms. Yousafzai, the Silence Breakers, and Ms. Thunberg are motivated by how unjust and dangerous the world is becoming, and are trying their best to slowly make a change. 

Musicians

Music is one of the most powerful tools that can heal people, inspire people, and make a change in the community. Besides producing relatable and touching songs, artists that effect good and change are just on a whole different level. 

Beyoncé, one of the most influential and powerful artists in the world, uses her lyrics and actions to continue to inspire change, give back, and urge others to do the same. 

Take a picture from the booklet in her second album B’Day as an example, there is Beyoncé in a bathing suit and stiletto heels, poised for action on a swampy riverbank, holding leashes attached to a pair of alligators. While the picture is visually striking, it also offers commentary about race, gender, and the persona of women in general. She is projecting a powerful persona as she transforms from the pop star she was 10 years ago to a cultural commentator today. 

In the videos of Beyoncé’s songs, several were intended to demonstrate the album’s central theme of “finding the beauty in imperfection,” as mentioned by Beyoncé in a video named Self-Titled Part 2 that was posted to her YouTube channel in 2014.



Rihanna, a young woman that is widely successful as a vocalist, actress, and even a fashion designer, is not afraid to voice her opinion about inclusivity for women and is able to give a voice to other women who don’t have the chance to speak up. Rihanna became even more popular after she developed her own fashion collection and makeup line. The fact that every piece is specifically made to help everyone look fashionable and sexy regardless of their body type is one of the things that makes the line incredibly popular. 

Rihanna believes that fashion should be available to everyone, not just a select few who fit into a certain category. She is not afraid to voice her opinion, and is able to give a voice to other women who don’t have the chance to speak up. And these are the reasons why young girls and women from all over the world look up to her. 

Taylor Swift, a gorgeous artist, both inside and outside, not only inspires others with her music, but also in the ways she lives her life and whom she touches.

One drastic change in the way Swift portrays herself publicly is in how she has become more vocal about politics. “In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions,” she was quoted in The Guardian as saying. She has publicly slammed Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn and has endorsed Democrats on Instagram. Her words and actions have encouraged young people to vote for what they believe in and also for a better world, instead of feeling like an outsider and not doing anything. 

Not only are these three fabulous women some of the most successful in the music industry, most importantly, they are making the best out of themselves by using their own strength to try to make a change on people’s lives. 

Fashion Icons

Chiara Ferragni, a pioneer in the fashion and communication industry, has shown what social media – Instagram, in particular – can be at its best: a place to educate, a place to ignite real change and perhaps most importantly, a place to really connect and inspire when the world needs it most. 

Ms. Ferragni has her own brand and uses her words and actions to set examples. For example, by following government orders to stay at home since lockdowns began. She has encouraged her followers to make donations to help the intensive care unit at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan to upgrade their equipment to help the overwhelmed hospital, and kickstarted the program herself with a donation of 100,000 euros (US$1 million). She successfully raised more than 4.3  million euros from more than 200,000 donors. This is how powerful one single woman can be. 

In conclusion, these women are powerful and are doing an outstanding job in each of their industries. They’re also getting more attention, more momentum and more respect. It is important that they are trying to use their platforms to make an impact and change in society. Not only is that the case, letting the world know that women can also have the power to inspire change, give their opinions, and share what they feel about something is the key to women being valued. Nevertheless, there’s still a lot of phenomenal men out there that are influencing society, and for women there’s still a long way to go to be seen as equals.