7 Badass Women Who Took the Internet by Storm

In the 21st century, women have more options of what they can be, do, and accomplish. However, there are still jobs and institutions that could use a little groundbreaking action, and the women on this list have done a lot to lower the count.

Here at Bright Side, we love a strong message, especially when it touches a lot of people around the world. So we couldn’t pass on introducing you to these women who have given our good old Internet a shake.

The first woman to breastfeed while voting in parliament

An Australian senator, Larissa Waters, broke the Internet last week by breastfeeding her baby daughter while taking a vote on a law. Tastefully and with grace, she showed up on the stand with the support of her husband and Senate. We must mention, that women in parliament have always had the right to do this, yet Mrs. Waters reminds us that simply having the right to do something is different than actually exercising it, and it can make a big difference.

Larissa Waters is a human rights activist and we can bet her little daughter will be raised with all the right values since she too is changing things up from this very young age.

First mother in space

A little step for the space industry — a huge leap for womankind! Anna Lee Fisher was not the first woman, but rather, the first mother in outer space.

She is not only a skilled chemist, physician, and mom — she is a NASA astronaut and had been involved in 3 major space programs — the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station and the Orion project.

16 years of hunger strike for justice

Have you ever thought about being part of a hunger strike for a great cause? It would take a lot to “out hunger” this entry on the list — in 2016, Irom Sharmila, also known as “Iron Lady” or “Mengoubi” had 16 years of hunger striking under her belt.

She was denied the right to vote and protested against a law that had been instated in 1958. Amnesty International had called her The Prisoner of Conscience.

Irom inspired so many women all over the world, that on International Women’s Day, 2014 she was pronounced The Top Woman Icon of India.

A Cuba to Florida swim at 64 years old

Bravery and persistence are 2 words that are definitely applicable to Diana Nyad. She stunned everybody when at the age of 64 she was not only the first woman but the first person ever to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage (110 mi or 180 km).

It was not her first attempt (it was her fifth), but in 2013 she accomplished this goal, putting this achievement next to her name along with being the 13th woman U.S. squash player, an author, journalist and motivational speaker.

A 122 year-old-icon

One of the oldest people in the world, Jeanne Calment, became famous not only because of the number of years under her belt but because of her presence on social media! She has been quoted all over the world. Here are some pearls of wisdom from this lovely lady you might have come across:

“I only have one wrinkle and I’m sitting on it.”

“Wit doesn’t make girls pretty.”

“I took pleasure when I could. I acted clearly and morally and without regret. I’m very lucky.”

Myiam Bialik

Mayim Bialik was a child star, playing the title character on NBC’s popular sitcom, Blossom — and then sometime later, she earned her Ph.D., got married, got divorced and had 2 kids.

She was not going to go back to her profession as an actress, but life had other plans — at one point she really needed health insurance, and by that time she was a full-time teacher and her husband was working on his Master’s degree. So she thought she’d do a couple of acting gigs — and got a part on the massively popular The Big Bang Theory.

But there are no limits to what she can do! She has new books to her name (Boying Up: How to Be Brave, Bold and Brilliant; Girling Up: How to Be Strong, Smart and Spectacular) and most importantly, a connection with her online audience through her YouTube channel, which she keeps honest, straightforward, and truthful.

An anonymous 8-year-old poet

Were you surprised to see this title on the list? We were surprised too when the teacher of this 8-year-old girl shared her poem on Twitter that she wrote in class. It was a perfect combination of love toward being a girl and the resistance to being defined by her gender. She was named by the people on the network as “Gen Z Sylvia Plath” for the strong feminist message in her words.

The poem reads:

The True Feminine

I am not sugar and spice and everything nice. I am music, I am art. I am a story. I am a church bell, gonging out wrongs and rights and normal nights. I was baby. I am child. I will be mother. I don’t mind being considered beautiful, I do not allow that to be my definition. I am a rich pie strong with knowledge. I will not be eaten.

It quickly found its audience on Twitter:

This really makes you believe in the next generation, doesn’t it?

Which story has touched you the most? Be sure to share it with us in the comment section below!