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International Women's Day
Women's Rights
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How do you view women's rights in the contemporary world?
Emmeline Pankhurst: 1858-1928
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Emmeline Pankhurst was a founding member of a group of women called the Suffragettes, who fought incredibly hard to get women the right to vote in the UK.
They often used violent and extreme tactics to do this, and Emmeline was no stranger to a prison cell because of this.
When World War One broke out, however, she recognised that she should help with the war effort, and she encouraged other Suffragettes to do the same.
While the men were away fighting in the war, many women like Emmeline took on jobs that men would traditionally do. They earned lots of respect doing this and it showed just how much women contributed to society - and, therefore, deserved the vote.
In 1918, a law was passed which allowed certain women the right to vote. This was a big step in equality between men and women - and many would argue that, for a large part of this, we have Emmeline to thank.
Jane Austen: 1775 - 1817
Jane Austen started putting pen to paper when she was just a teenager and went on to write six major novels which revealed what life was like in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Four of them were released within just four years of each other! That's some seriously rapid writing.
These were Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma. Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published after she died - and they are loved all over the world. There was actually a seventh and final novel, but sadly she never got to complete it.
While she was alive, she actually published her books anonymously, so nobody knew her as a writer. It is widely accepted that she never got the credit she deserved until after her death.
Now, just over 200 years since she died, millions of people carry Jane around in their pockets every single day. That's because her face is now on the new £10 note as a way of marking just what an enormous impact her work still has today.
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Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf: 1938 -
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Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was the first elected female head of state in Africa when she took office as the President of Liberia in January 2006. She signed a Freedom of Information bill (the first of its kind in West Africa) and made reduction of the national debt a cornerstone of her Presidency. To investigate crimes committed during Liberia’s civil war, she established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and became a global icon with her commitment to fighting dictators, corruption and poverty through empowerment of women and girls. President Sirleaf and two other female leaders (Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman), were awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace prize for their nonviolent role in promoting peace, democracy and gender equality.
Oprah Winfrey: 1954 -
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She started off her TV career when she was just a teenager, becoming the youngest person - and first African-America woman - to read the main news on a channel in the city of Nashville in America at the age of 19.
Now, she is the one of the world's most famous and most-loved interviewers.
She first became famous in 1986 with the Oprah Winfrey Show. It ran for 25 years before she turned her success into her own TV channel - the Oprah Winfrey Network.
She has also done a huge amount of charity work, including setting up two of her own foundations and donating millions of her own money.
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WHO ARE THESE WOMEN?
Mary Barra
Malala Yousafzai
Serena Williams
Ginni Rometty
Angela Merkel
Women in Business
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In Brazil, 1/3 of companies have women in leadership positions.
52% of new entrepreneurship in Brazil is done by women.
Violence against women
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Out of 100 female murders, 45 happen because of men who don't accept the end of a relationship. 30 happen because of jealousy.
In Brazil, 822 to 1,370 women are raped every day.