6. Peggy Whitson: Reaching for the Stars at Any Age
This year, Peggy Whitson became the oldest woman to ever travel in space at the age of 56 years old. Despite the fact that a majority of astronauts are men, Peggy had previously traveled to the International Space Station in 2002 and 2007, soon after becoming the station’s first female commander. After her latest flight, which made her the oldest female astronaut, Whitson also logged more days in space than any other woman in NASA history.
7. Yusra Mardini: Risking Her Life to Save Refugees
Yusra Mardini was once a young swimmer in Damascus, backed by the Syrian Olympic Committee. However, as the Syrian war escalated, Mardini and her sister were forced to flee and were smuggled by boat from Turkey to Greece. Just thirty minutes from their destination, the motor on the boat began to fail and Mardini, along with three other swimmers, jumped in the chilly water. They swam for over three hours to push the boat to safety, saving the lives of 20 people. Mardini went on to compete in the Rio Olympics this year as part of a team of refugees.
8. Leshia Evans: Gracefully Protesting Police Brutality
Though many Americans don’t know her name, Leshia Evans was the subject of an iconic photo taken during a Black Lives Matter protest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana this past July. The protest took place after Baton Rouge police officers shot and killed Alton Sterling, an unarmed African-American. Evans stood gracefully and calmly in front of a blockade of riot police in a flowing dress, refusing to budge as police advanced. She was arrested soon after the photo was taken.
9. Negin Khpalwak: Using Music to Empower Women in Afghanistan
Negin Khpalwak has always had a penchant for music. However, after the Taliban took power in her native Afghanistan, they banned the playing of instruments. Even though the Taliban have been out of power for years, many conservative Muslims in Afghanistan still frown upon most forms of music. Despite this, Khpalwak persisted and began learning music in secret. Though her father approved, the rest of her family was appalled and she was forced to live in an orphanage in the nation’s capital, Kabul. Now, Negan leads the Zohra orchestra, Afghanistan’s first all-female music ensemble. The orchestra is composed of 35 women and plays both Western and Afghan instruments.
10. Ibtihaj Muhammad: Shattering Stereotypes About Muslim Women
Ibtihaj Muhammad always felt like she stood out among her fellow athletes in grade school as she was the only one among them who wore the hijab. Now, Muhammad, an Olympic fencer for the United States, feels embraced by her fellow US fencers but ostracized from many other Americans in the post-9/11 world. Muhammad has been targeted for wearing the hijab on numerous occasions, including during fencing competitions. However, Muhammad pushed on despite her detractors to become the first US Olympic athlete to compete while wearing a hijab, showing that Muslim women can be strong and powerful despite prevailing stereotypes painting them as meek and submissive.
