When thinking of an “empowering woman,” who does society often raise up? Oprah Winfrey? Michelle Obama?  Ruth Bader Ginsburg?

As Women’s History Month, March has been time to reflect back on all those women who have blazed trails in society and all the mile-markers that women have achieved. In fact—although not until Aug. 18—this year marks the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment to the Constitution, giving the women the right to vote.

However, it took another 62 years before the country would honor women’s history. At first, the official recognition of Women’s History was much shorter. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed that the week of March 8 as Woman’s History Week. It wasn’t till 1987 that Reagan was officially declared a month long, stating: American women of every race, creed and ethnic background helped found and build our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways … As leaders in public affairs, American women not only worked to secure their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity but also were principal advocates in the abolitionist, temperance, mental health reform, industrial labor and social reform movements, as well as the modern civil rights movement.

There is a lengthy list of extraordinary women in history who has done so much to get the world to where it is today. In 2020, there are so many more inspiring women to add to that list. “Someone who inspires me is by far Ashley Graham,” expressed Carleigh Stump, 10. “She breaks the stereotype of what beauty is supposed to be.”  As important as it is to fit the stereotype of beauty nowadays, it is astounding to have someone who breaks that stereotype.

However, not all inspirational women are notable celebrities. For some, they need not look any further than their own home. “My mom inspires me a lot”, asserts Emily Nava 10. “She has always been there for me; she has also done a lot for our family; she has shown me what hardworking really is.”