It’s March 8th which means…Happy International Women’s Day! But don’t even try to limit us women to just one day of celebration! You may not know this but March is also Women’s History Month, that means you get 31 full days to delve into the history of women! To be honest, that is by no means enough time, but it may be just enough for you to learn something about the women of this world that you didn't know before!
In honor of today's very important celebration, my friends over at BUST compiled a list of awesome quotes from our favorite feminist trailblazers. You know, the badass ladies who impacted (and are impacting) our history in unforgettable ways. From Jane Austen to Malala Yousafzai, these women have inspired us to stand up and fight for what we believe in. And here’s to many more years of celebrating YOU, lovely readers! Because, well, you rock and are totally inspirational for us as well.
"At some point I was a happy African feminist who does not hate men and who likes to wear lip gloss and high heels for herself and not for men."
2. Beyonce
"We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead."
3. Cheris Kramarae
“Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.”
“Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.”
4. Malala Yousafzai
"We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
"We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
5. Annie Lennox
“We all fight over what the label 'feminism' means but for me it's about empowerment. It's not about being more powerful than men - it's about having equal rights with protection, support, justice. It's about very basic things. It's not a badge like a fashion item.”
“We all fight over what the label 'feminism' means but for me it's about empowerment. It's not about being more powerful than men - it's about having equal rights with protection, support, justice. It's about very basic things. It's not a badge like a fashion item.”
6. Audre Lorde
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
7. Gloria Steinem
“A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.”
“A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.”
8. Hillary Clinton
“Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely — and the right to be heard.”
“Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely — and the right to be heard.”
9. Maya Angelou
“I’m a feminist. I’ve been a female for a long time now. It’d be stupid not to be on my own side.”
“I’m a feminist. I’ve been a female for a long time now. It’d be stupid not to be on my own side.”
10. Betty Friedan
“No woman gets an orgasm from shining the kitchen floor.”
“No woman gets an orgasm from shining the kitchen floor.”
11. Mindy Kaling
"I always get asked, ‘Where do you get your confidence?’ I think people are well meaning, but it’s pretty insulting. Because what it means to me is, ‘You, Mindy Kaling, have all the trappings of a very marginalized person. You’re not skinny, you’re not white, you’re a woman. Why on earth would you feel like you’re worth anything?"
"I always get asked, ‘Where do you get your confidence?’ I think people are well meaning, but it’s pretty insulting. Because what it means to me is, ‘You, Mindy Kaling, have all the trappings of a very marginalized person. You’re not skinny, you’re not white, you’re a woman. Why on earth would you feel like you’re worth anything?"
About BUST: With an attitude that is fierce, funny, and proud to be female, BUST provides an uncensored view on the female experience. BUST tells the truth about women's lives and presents a female perspective on pop culture. BUSTing stereotypes about women since 1993.
