This March marks the 41st anniversary of National Women’s History Month. Being observed officially since 1987, the month long celebration is accompanied with a different theme for each year, with this year’s theme being “women providing healing, promoting hope.”

In honor of this theme, I have compiled a list of prominent women figures that have promoted both healing and hope through their work.

1) Tarana Burke

Using her past trauma with sexual assault to motivate her activism, Burke founded the “Me Too” movement and slogan. She has dedicated her activism towards encouraging fellow victims of sexual assault to share their encounters and connect with other victims on a deeper level. As of 2018, the #MeToo has been used more than 19 million times over multiple social media platforms.

2) Gloria Steinem

Working as a journalist, feminist, and political activist, Steinem served as a leader for the American Feminist Movement from the 1960’s to the 1970’s. Aside from her written advocacy, Steinem also fought for women’s right by founding several political organizations like the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Women’s Media Center, and many more.

3) Gloria Allred

Another infamous ‘Gloria,’ Allred is both a feminist and a discrimination attorney who has dedicated her life to fighting for high-profile, usually discrimination-based, court cases. Some of her most known cases/clients are Nicole Brown Simpson (OJ Simpson case), Veronica Siwik-Daniels (Tiger Woods case), the Occidental College case, Jenna Talackova (Miss Universe Canada), and many more. Aside from practicing law, Allred currently serves as the founder and president of the Women’s Equal Rights Legal Defense and Education Fund.

4) Ai-jen Poo

Serving as the co-founder and Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Poo has dedicated her work towards helping women which work in the domestic care and cleaning field. Within the past 12 years, the National Domestic Workers Alliance has fought to pass bills such as the Domestic Worker Bills of Rights. The alliance has also brought protection to nearly two million domestic workers which were previously paid under minimum wage.

5) Ketanji Brown Jackson

Currently nominated for a Supreme Court Justice position, Judge Jackson served as a federal judge since 2021. Prior to becoming a judge, Jackson was a Harvard Law alumnae who later served as a public defender, supreme court clerk, and Vice Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.

Although the women I have listed have contributed to this year’s theme through large accomplishments, we too can strive to bring both healing and justice to our fellow women we encounter in our day-to-day life.