30 Most Famous Feminists of All Time

We have come a long way in feminism’s history because of the efforts of many courageous and committed women. Just a handful of the numerous women who have struggled for justice and equality for all are represented by these 30 well-known feminists.
 
Who are these 30 well-known feminists, then? These are ladies from various backgrounds, nations, and cultures. These are politicians, authors, writers, artists, and more. They are all bound together by their faith in the strength of women and their commitment to bringing about a society that is more just and equitable.

1 . Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797)

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Mary Wollstonecraft was born in London in 1759. Her father educated her at home and urged her to read and exercise independent thought. She started out as a young child writer. English author, philosopher, and supporter of women’s rights, Wollstonecraft. ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ is her most famous book. This book makes the case for gender equality. Wollstonecraft led an activist life in addition to writing. She contributed to establishing the first feminist movement in the UK.

2. Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)

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Adams, Massachusetts is the place of Anthony’s birth. She grew up in a Quaker household where everyone was treated equally. In 1869, with the assistance of a friend, Anthony established the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA). She was detained in 1872 for casting an unauthorized ballot. Up until the time of her passing in 1906, Anthony carried on the campaign for women’s voting rights. She had died when women secured the right to vote, but her work made the 19th Amendment possible.

3. Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)

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Stanton was born in 1815 to a wealthy and illustrious family in Johnstown, New York. She first received her education at home before enrolling in Emma Willard’s Troy Female Seminary. Stanton was a pioneer in the women’s suffrage campaign in the United States. She was also social reformer, and an advocate for women’s rights. The Seneca Falls Convention, the first gathering called specifically to debate women’s rights, was largely driven by her. She is regarded as one of the most significant individuals in the history of the women’s rights movement.

4. Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928)

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In 1858, Pankhurst was born in Manchester, England. Pankhurt’s family that participated actively in the fight for women’s rights. Her father was a barrister who championed women’s rights while her mother was an active member of the Manchester Women’s Suffrage Society. She developed into a political activist for the British government and the movement’s leader. Pankhurst is well renowned for her aggressive strategies, including property destruction and hunger strikes, which she employed to fight for women’s right to vote.

5. Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)

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In 1797, in Swartekill, New York, Isabella Baumfree gave birth to Truth. She was raised in captivity and under the ownership of several different masters. Truth endured verbal, physical, and emotional assault. In 1827, she finally succeeded in making it to freedom. Speaking on behalf of women’s rights and the perils of slavery, Truth traveled across the nation. She is well remembered for her infamous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech, which she gave in 1851 at the Women’s Rights Conference.

6. Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986)

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Simone de Beauvoir was a French existentialist philosopher, author, political activist, and social theorist who lived from 1908 to 1986. Her book, The Second Sex, is quite known. It speaks on gender and sexuality. De Beauvoir was born in Paris, France. She argued that gender is a social construct and that men oppress women as a result of their upbringing. The writings of de Beauvoir have had a significant influence on feminist philosophy and progression.

7. Gloria Steinem (1934-)

Steinem was born in 1934 in Toledo, Ohio. She attended Smith College, where she studied sociology and government. She worked as a journalist for several magazines after graduating. The first national publication to concentrate on women’s issues was Ms. magazine, which Steinem assisted in founding in 1968.
 
The feminist movement grew more well-known as a result. Steinem was a supporter of women’s rights and a strong opponent of sexism and discrimination. She was also active in the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the National Women’s Political Caucus.

8. Betty Friedan (1921-2006)

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Betty Friedan was an American feminist, social activist, and writer. She is best known for the second-wave feminism classic The Feminine Mystique. This is a book she wrote. In 1921, Friedan was born in Peoria, Illinois. She went to Smith College and studied psychology. She held jobs as a freelance journalist and a labor union activist after college where she started venturing in feminism.
 
The Feminine Mystique examined how mothers and housewives in her generation felt unsatisfied in their roles. This pointed to the need for equal employment of women. The bestseller book contributed to the second wave of feminism.

9. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (1977-)

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Nigerian novelist, nonfiction author, and short story writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie writes in all three genres. Purple Hibiscus (2003), Half of a Yellow Sun (2006), and Americanah are among her best-known works (2013). In 1977, Adichie was born in Enugu, Nigeria. Adichie is a supporter of social justice and feminism. She is a passionate African feminist who has delivered several lectures and interviews in addition to penning a substantial amount of writing on the subject. Chimamanda is an inspiration and a role model to women and girls all over.

10. Malala Yousafzai (1997-)

The youngest Nobel Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, is a Pakistani advocate for women’s education. She is recognized for her promotion of human rights. She particularly pioneered for women’s and children’s education in her native Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwest Pakistan.
 
The local Taliban occasionally prohibited girls from attending school in this area which encouraged Malala to stand for girl’s right to education. Since then, Yousafzai’s campaign has grown into a global movement. I Am Malala, a book she penned, was released in 2013. She also established the Malala Fund. The fund aims to support girls’ education in Pakistan and other nations.

11. Audre Lorde (1934-1992)

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Audre Lorde was an activist, essayist, and poet. Being black, lesbian, a mother, and a cancer survivor, she addressed the intersectionality of these identities in her writing. Lorde was a participant in social justice movements like the women’s liberation movement. Both the Combahee River Collective and the National Black Feminist Organization were founded by her. The mainstream women’s liberation movement was viewed as having racism and sexism, which prompted the formation of the NBFO.

12. bell hooks (1952-2021)

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bell hooks was a well-known feminist, social critic, and author of African descent. Her usage of the lowercase “bell” in her pen name was a manner of defying mainstream white society’s expectations for black women. She was noted for her work on the intersectionality of race, gender, and class. Early in the 1980s, hooks started writing, and her debut book, Ain’t I a Woman?, was released in 1981. The book was a critical race theory examination of how black women are treated in the US. It was adopted swiftly as a standard of black feminist philosophy.

13. Margaret Atwood (1939 – )

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Poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, educator, environmentalist, and inventor Margaret Atwood is a Canadian. She is regarded as a significant writer of her generation. Atwood has written extensively on the difficulties faced by women in real-world situations. She examines the ways in which society manipulates and objectifies women’s bodies in her 1982 essay The Female Body. She contends that women must take back control of their own lives and bodies.
“Feminism is not about making women the same as men. It is about giving women the same choices as men.” – Margaret Atwood

14. Arundhati Roy (1959-)

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Indian novelist and activist Arundhati Roy is well-known for her work on social justice, environmentalism, and women’s rights. She is the author of the 1997 Man Booker Prize-winning book. That is the book ‘The God of Little Things’.
“We need to create a world where women are free to be themselves, to make their own choices, and to live their lives on their own terms.” – Arundhati Roy

16. Angela Davis (1944 – )

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A feminist is how Angela Davis would describe herself. She is an American political activist, academic, and writer. Davis is most recognized for her work on racism, gender, and the abolition of the prison system. She studied political science and philosophy at Brandeis University. In the 1960s, Davis was involved with the Black Panther Party. Angela Davis fights for the rights of prisoners, women, and people of color every other day.
 
“Women’s liberation is not the goal of feminism, it is the starting point.” – Angela Davis

18. Tarana Burke (1976-)

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American author and activist Tarana Burke is the creator of the Me Too movement. The movement gained worldwide attention and started a dialogue about sexual assault and harassment in 2017. Burke grew up in the South Bronx, New York City. She started working as an activist in the 1990s. Burke first used the term “Me Too” in 2006 to refer to the shared experience of sexual assault. A number of policy developments have also resulted from the movement. This includes the adoption of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights in the United States.

19. Ai-jen Poo (1972-)

Ai-jen Poo is a labor organizer and activist from the United States. The National Domestic Workers Alliance is a nonprofit that promotes the rights of domestic workers. She serves as the organization’s executive director. She has fought relentlessly to better the lot of domestic workers, who are disproportionately women. She is a supporter of women’s and girls’ rights. The topic of sexual harassment and assault against women has been more widely known thanks to Poo.
“Feminism is about building power for women, so that we can challenge the systems that oppress us.” – Ai-jen Poo

20. Inna Shevchenko (1984-)

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Feminist Inna Shevchenko is an activist from Ukraine and the founder of the global FEMEN movement. The movement frequently engages in topless protests against patriarchal expressions, particularly tyranny, religion, and the sex business. The three FEMEN activists who were allegedly threatened and led by her in 2011 by the Belarus KGB.

21. Beyoncé (1981-)

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Feminist Beyoncé has made no secret of the fact that she believes in the equality and empowerment of women. She has promoted feminist causes using her platform as a singer and actress. Beyoncé frequently explores themes of female empowerment and self-love in her music. Her songs “Independent Woman” and “Rule the World (Girls)” serve as anthems for the emancipation of women. Her song “Beautiful Hurts” is a strong indictment of the cosmetics business.

22. Emma Watson (1990-)

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Emma Watson has long been an outspoken supporter of women’s rights. She has promoted feminism using her status as an actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador. Watson has spoken out against violence against women and gender injustice. She has backed groups dedicated to empowering women. She is also a founding member of the HeForShe movement. This is a worldwide movement that encourages males to take up the cause of gender equality.

23. Amanda Gorman (2000-)

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First National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States, activist, poet Amanda Gorman is 23 years old. She is known for her passionate poetry and support of social justice. Gorman has made statements condemning violence against women and sexual harassment. She has backed groups that promote the advancement of women and girls. Gorman also participates in the Time’s Up movement, which works to end sexual harassment and assault at work.

24. Greta Thunberg (2003-)

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Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg is well-known for her efforts to combat climate change. Thunberg is a feminist as well. She has advocated for gender equality in the struggle against climate change. Thunberg stated that “women and girls are feeling the brunt of the repercussions of climate change, which is a problem caused by man.” Thunberg stated her opinion that feminism is “extremely crucial” for the climate movement in an interview with The Guardian in 2019.
 

25. Adrienne Rich (1929-2012)

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Adrienne Rich was a feminist, essayist, and poet from the United States. She is regarded as a significant 20th-century feminist author. Gender, sexuality, and class were all topics Rich tackled in her writing. Rich was a strong voice for girls’ and women’s rights. A feminist poetry classic is her poem “Diving into the Wreck” from 1973. In it, Rich examines how she is learning to accept her past as a feminist and a woman.

26. Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)

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Mexico-born artist Frida Kahlo lived from 1907 to 1954. She is recognized for her self-portraits and art. Her art explores themes of gender, identity, and sorrow. Numerous women looked up to Kahlo as a feminist symbol and as a role model. A testament to the ability of art to heal and transform is Frida Kahlo’s life and body of work. She was a woman who triumphed against all difficulties to establish herself as a prominent artist and feminist role model.

27. Oprah Winfrey (1954 – )

Feminist Oprah Winfrey supports women’s rights. She has advocated for organizations that encourage female emancipation and spoken out in favor of gender equality. In 2013, she established the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. The academy offers education to young women from underprivileged backgrounds. Oprah has also spoken out against gender-based violence and sexual harassment. Winfrey remarked in a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, “I consider myself to be a feminist. I think women can be strong.”

28. Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014)

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Maya Angelou was a strong advocate for the rights and empowerment of women. She advocated for women’s independence and strength while speaking out against sexism and violence against them. In Missouri’s St. Louis in 1928, Angelou was born. She spoke about her life and career while traveling the globe. Angelou stated in a 1993 interview with The New York Times, “A feminist, I am. I think women can be powerful. I think that we should be treated equally because I think that women are just as capable as men.”

29. Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933 – 2020)

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an American lawyer and jurist. She was a member of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Her advocacy for gender equality made her well-known. Ginsburg co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union’s Women’s Rights Initiative in 1972. (ACLU). The Project brought several legal actions against gender discrimination. Ginsburg earned a significant victory in the Roe v. Wade case in 1973. The case set precedence in legalizing abortion all over the country.

30. Lena Dunham (1986 – )

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Since she was a teen, Lena Dunham identified as a feminist. She has advocated for gender equality and backed groups that assist women’s empowerment. Additionally, she has written and directed movies and TV shows that explore feminist topics. During a 2012 interview with The New York Times, Dunham stated, “feminism is who I am. I think women can accomplish anything. I think that women should be treated equally to men because I think they are equally capable.” The frank and even unpolished depiction of female sexuality and friendship in Dunham’s work has garnered appreciation.
  1. Hillary Clinton (1947 – )
Feminist is how Hillary Clinton describes herself. She has advocated for gender equality and backed groups that assist women’s empowerment. She has also held a number of important government roles like the Secretary of State. This gave her a platform from which to advocate feminist concerns. During a 2016 interview with The New York Times, Hillary stated, “feminism is who I am. I think women can accomplish anything. I think that women should be treated equally to men because I think they are equally capable.”
  1. Virginia Woolf (1882 – 1941)
Virginia Woolf was a strong supporter of women’s rights and equality. Her writings examined the difficulties that women in society face. Woolf contends that for women to reach their full potential, they must have their own space and be financially independent in her essay “A Room of One’s Own.” Also, she discusses the value of education for women. The feminist movement has greatly benefited from Woolf’s writing. She is regarded as a significant 20th-century feminist author.
 
Just a handful of the numerous women who have worked for justice and equality for all are represented among the 30 notable feminists in this article. Their efforts have significantly influenced the world. When we stand together and fight for what we believe in anything is possible. These women have motivated us to improve, take risks, and never give up on our aspirations. So let’s all keep up the struggle for a world that is more just and equitable.
 

 

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