10 Most Famous Feminists in History

Gender inequality continues to persist in society, despite claims of progress. However, significant changes have occurred over the past few centuries, largely thanks to the efforts of a group of individuals known as feminists. These pioneers advocated for women's rights and fought for gender equality, amassing a considerable following. From ancient authors to pop stars and young activists, we have compiled a list of the greatest and most famous feminists in history.

History's 10 Most Famous Feminists:

10. Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797), an English writer and feminist philosopher, vocally advocated for gender equality. Her 1792 work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Women," challenged Rousseau's notions of female inferiority and earned a prominent place in feminist literature. Wollstonecraft's other important works include "Thoughts on the Education of Daughters" (1787), "The Female Reader" (1789), and "A Historical and Moral View of the Origins and Progress of the French Revolution" (1794). She is also renowned as the mother of Mary Shelley, the author of "Frankenstein."

9. Amelia Bloomer

Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818-1894), born in the United States, was a renowned feminist advocate. Despite limited formal education, she excelled in writing and teaching. Bloomer wrote articles on women's rights for her husband's newspaper and eventually started her own publication called The Lily, focusing solely on women's issues. She also championed dress reforms and often appeared in costumes that drew disapproval from conservatives, resulting in the style being named "bloomers."

8. Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), a French philosopher and writer, tirelessly criticized the patriarchal system and played a significant role in modern feminism. Her 1949 book, "The Second Sex," exposed how men consistently denied women's identity, drawing on history, art, and psychology. Despite attracting sharp criticism and hate campaigns, the work became a seminal text in feminism. De Beauvoir also spoke out against discrimination towards unwed mothers and was well-known for her open relationship with the renowned philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.

7. Alice Paul

Alice Paul (1885-1977), an American women's rights activist, became actively involved in the suffragist movement while studying in England. She faced multiple arrests and imprisonments for her advocacy. Paul was initially a member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association but later left to establish the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage in 1913, which played a pivotal role in securing women's right to vote. She also served as the first chairperson of the National Woman's Party and was the driving force behind the drafting of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923, although it failed to be ratified.

6. Lucy Stone

Lucy Stone (1818-1893), born in Massachusetts, was a renowned feminist and abolitionist. Her decision to retain her maiden name after marriage, symbolizing individuality, sparked controversy during her time. Stone played a pivotal role in organizing the first National Women's Rights Convention in 1850, and her speeches inspired many individuals, including Susan B. Anthony, to fight for women's rights. In 1870, she founded the Woman's Journal, a major publication supporting women's rights, and co-founded the American Woman Suffrage Association.

5. Carrie Chapman Catt

Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947), originally known as Carrie Clinton Lane, was one of the most influential women in early 20th century America. She passionately advocated for women's suffrage and peace. Catt served as the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association twice and played a significant role in the campaign that led to women being granted the right to vote in 1920. She co-founded the League of Women Voters and the International Alliance of Women, and she was also an anti-war activist, contributing to the founding of the National Committee on the Cause and Cure of War.

4. Betty Friedan

Betty Friedan (1921-2006), an activist and writer, emerged as a prominent figure in the feminist movement in America. Her best-selling book, "The Feminine Mystique," published in 1963, is credited with igniting a resurgence in the women's rights movement. In 1966, Friedan co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) and served as its president for four years. On the 50th anniversary of the constitutional amendment granting voting rights to women, she organized the Women's Strike for Equality, a demonstration that saw the participation of thousands. Friedan went on to found multiple organizations and write books advocating for gender equality, further strengthening the movement.

3. Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), originally born as Isabella Baumfree in New York, crusaded against racial discrimination and gender inequality. Born into slavery, she spent nearly three decades as a slave until she was freed in 1827. Truth traveled to various locations on preaching missions, advocating for women's and slaves' rights. In 1836, she became the first African American woman to win a lawsuit in the United States, fighting for her son's freedom from slavery. In 1843, she adopted the name Sojourner Truth, believing it to be a message from God. Her speech, "Ain't I a Woman," delivered at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio, in 1851, is a landmark moment in the history of the feminist movement.

2. Susan B. Anthony

Susan Brownell Anthony (1820-1906) was one of the foremost leaders of the American suffragist and anti-slavery movements. Anthony organized numerous campaigns and delivered lectures throughout the country on these issues. She played an instrumental role in forming the Women's Loyal National League, which supported President Abraham Lincoln's policies. In 1872, Anthony and fifteen other women cast votes in the presidential election, leading to her arrest and conviction. She also co-authored three volumes of "History of Woman Suffrage" and became the first woman to be depicted on a U.S. coin.

1. Elizabeth Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) was a prominent figure in the early feminist movement in America. She was a close friend and collaborator of Susan B. Anthony, co-authoring the "History of Woman Suffrage" with her. Stanton conceived the Declaration of Sentiments at the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1848, a document that became one of the seminal texts in the women's rights movement. She served as the president of the National Woman Suffrage Association for eight years and authored "The Woman's Bible" (1895) and an autobiography titled "Eighty Years and More" (1898).