Life and Influences of Significant Women in History

Though some internationally recognized women such as Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have proven that when given an opportunity on the largest of platforms, gender cannot act as a deterrent or determinant for the general development of the world. Queen Elizabeth 1 Born on 7th September 1533 to her parents Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, Elizabeth 1 knew little about how her life would unfold and allow her to become one among the most successful and adored women in history. She was also known as Elizabeth Tudor and was sometimes referred to as Good Queen Bess. Elizabeth 1 faced challenges right from her birth since her parents expected her to be born as a male child. Her birth came as a bitter disappointment to her father who desperately wanted a boy as the heir to the throne.

She remains famous for restoring protestant England which had turned Catholic in the previous regime as well as restoring the coinage value. Most importantly she drove England from a poor country to a country of power and hope while also leading it to victory in great battles like the defeat of the Spanish Amada. Due to these achievements, she personified an image of great personality portrayed to people that is also synonymous to date with women who use her as an inspiration. ("Perception And Power: Leadership Lessons From Elizabeth I") Queen Victoria Queen Alexandrina Victoria was born at Kensington Palace in London to her mother Princess Marie and the Duke of Kent, Edward in May 1819. She would later go on to be one of the British Monarchs who reigned longest, taking command of Great Britain and Ireland for more than 60 years.

Despite gender inequality still dominating during her reign, it did not act as a deterrent to her and her national and international objectives. Thanks to her rule, England dominates as a world influence and power and English is a commonly used language worldwide. Queen Victoria stood out as a role model for women all over and helped establish values that remain relevant till date such as enabling the middle-class desire and work for social advancement. ("Queen Victoria: The Woman Who Redefined Britain’S Monarchy") Indira Gandhi Despite her possessing a famous last name, Indira Gandhi was not related to Mahatma Gandhi though they shared a common objective of making India a great nation. She is regarded as one of the most popular Indian leaders due to her remarkable efforts on the national and global stages while prime minister for 15 years.

She was also instrumental in fostering India's relations with countries such as China and Russia. Improvement of the lives of Indians was at the forefront of her major objectives as she also promoted new ideas in the form of science and technology. Unfortunately, there was a sad ending to her life as she was assassinated in 1984 though she remains an embodiment to women and others worldwide through her character. She commanded respect and had an unmatched conviction to pursue and achieve goals despite criticism and gender inequality at that time, which is an inspiration to many. ("Indira Gandhi: The Powerhouse PM Who Symbolises Women Empowerment") Golda Meir Golda Meir was born in Kiev, Russia but grew to become a successful Israeli politician who amassed fame and recognition due to her efforts as a leader for many years.

Golda Meir passed away in December 1978 but left a mark on the world in many fronts most notably as an iconic figure in modern Zionism. She is considered a hero due to the hard work she put in to lead and unify Israel as a country in spite of the many obstacles such as antisemitism and discrimination based on gender. Moreover, she is considered as one of the most outstanding leaders in the history of Israel and worldwide as well as being viewed as among accomplished leaders of the 20th century. ("Golda Meir | Jewish Women's Archive") Mother Teresa Mother Teresa was born in modern-day Macedonia on August 1910 as Anjeze Bojaxhiu and grew to become very religious as a Roman Catholic. Young as she was aged 17, she decided to be a nun and made an application to the Loreto order of nuns and went on to learn the English language in Ireland.

Schools, clinics and orphanages were also set up thanks to her and she also received global awards that recognized her actions. The Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and Order of Merit in 1983 are just some of the few international awards received. Her life was an inspiration to generally everyone since she made a significantly notable impact on the lives of many despite not being rich but due to her will and conviction. ("Mother Teresa: The Greatest Person Of The Twentieth Century") Angela Merkel Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current German Chancellor since 2005 and also head of the CDU from the year 2000. She has been in the political spotlight in Germany for years and has often received descriptions such as the leader of the free world and the most powerful woman globally.

Angela Merkel remains to be a great influence worldwide and has openly backed the United Nations and European Union. She recently received the 2017 International Gender Equality Prize from Finland for championing the rights of women. (Stephens) Conclusion For a large period, political fronts were not inclusive of women and were largely viewed as men’s domains. Factors such as gender equality enhancement, modernized electoral systems, women’s suffrage and women’s movements have generally enhanced the participation of women in political stages. The lives of the six women discussed in this essay clearly show that women have the ability to hold great positions of power and perform equally well or even better. kings. edu/womens_history/igandhi. html. Accessed 28 May 2018. "Indira Gandhi: The Powerhouse PM Who Symbolises Women Empowerment".