Celebrating the Influential Women of 2023 PART 1
Dear Readers,
As we look back on 2023, what will we remember? It was a year marked by both highs and lows. We witnessed wars and moments of peace, experienced sadness and hope, and faced challenges that tested our collective strength. Yet, 2023 was also a time of unity, innovation, and remarkable achievements. It was a year enriched by captivating books, movies, and music. But most notably, 2023 was a year to celebrate women – their strength, diversity, and resilience.
In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the stories of these incredible women, exploring how they have shaped 2023 and continue to influence our future. The article is organized into five distinct parts for a more focused exploration:
Part 1 - Leaders in Politics and Activism: Highlighting women who have made significant impacts in the political arena and as activists.
Part 2 - Champions in Sports and Physical Achievement and Pioneers in Science and Technology: Celebrating women’s achievements in sports and their groundbreaking work in scientific and technological fields.
Part 3 - Innovators in Arts and Culture: Showcasing women who have pushed boundaries and made lasting contributions in various artistic and cultural domains.
Part 4 - Advocates for Social Change and Human Rights: Recognizing women who have tirelessly worked for social justice and human rights.
Part 5 - Leaders in Business and Economics and Trailblazers in Education and Research: Acknowledging women who have excelled in business, economics, education, and research.
Join us as we shine a light on some of the amazing women of 2023 and their transformative roles in shaping a more equal and just world.
Part 1 - Leaders in Politics and Activism
Jacinda Ardern
Role: Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Researcher
Age: 43
Country: New Zealand
“You can be anxious, sensitive, kind and wear your heart on your sleeve. You can be a mother, or not, an ex-Mormon, or not, a nerd, a crier, a hugger – you can be all of these things, and not only can you be here – you can lead.”
Jacinda Ardern's approach to leadership has been a refreshing change, showing that leading is not about pretending but about revealing, not about dominating but about liberating. In early 2023, the Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand resigned, saying, “I’ve got nothing left in the tank.” This admission came after she had spent five and a half years in office, a period during which she had a child and led her country through a pandemic, mosque attacks, and personal attacks on social media with empathy and firmness. Before her departure to Harvard, she addressed Parliament with words that intertwined personal and institutional realms and paid homage to Māori culture, a hallmark of her entire tenure. Her leadership recognized and sought to heal the wounds of a diverse identity.
Tsai Ing-wen
Role: President of Taiwan
Age: 67
Country: Taiwan
“Taiwan is facing escalating military intimidation, grey-zone tactics, and cyberattacks. In the face of such threats, the people of Taiwan remain calm. Some commentators even suggest we might be ‘too calm.’ But the reality is that the people of Taiwan are keeping a vigilant eye on the situation: we continue to do our best to strengthen our defense capabilities and resilience.”
For the past eight years, Tsai Ing-wen, the President of Taiwan, has been strongly disliked by the Beijing Communist Party. Her leadership in Taiwan, especially her opposition to Beijing's "reunification" efforts, has demonstrated that the twenty-three million people of Taiwan do not want to be governed by Xi Jinping and his leaders. Upon her election in 2016, Tsai, who holds a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics, faced criticism from Chinese propaganda for being a woman. They claimed, "The lack of a husband and children makes her politics emotional, personal, and extreme." This sexist comment sparked anger online, especially among many Chinese women who admired Tsai’s tenacity, her strength, independence, and not needing to be led by a man. Now, after winning two elections and maintaining her calm through threats, Tsai is ready to step down as president after the January 13, 2024, elections. The tension with Beijing arises from Taiwan's commitment to democracy, a clear contrast to the secretive and male-dominated leadership selection in Beijing, where the public doesn't have a say.
Yolanda Díaz
Role: Spanish Minister of Labor
Age: 52
Country: Spain
“Today marks the beginning of the government of YES. We face great challenges ahead, and I assure you that we will rise to the occasion. We will continue to move forward towards more decent jobs, policies against climate change, reducing inequality, and winning rights. It’s for you. We’re going for more.”
The daughter of a unionist, communist Yolanda Díaz previously served as the Minister of Labor in Pedro Sánchez's socialist government, during which she raised the minimum wage to 1080 euros. In a remarkably short time, she founded a new political platform - Sumar - which made its debut in the early elections last July 23rd, uniting 16 different parties to the left of the Socialist Party (PSOE), including the now cumbersome formation of Unidas Podemos. The result: 3 million votes and 31 seats. Thus, she provided the necessary support to launch a new government led by Sánchez, sidelining the more activist wing. Díaz played a crucial role in tough negotiations with nationalist parties that eventually secured external support for the government. The Vice President now faces two major challenges: consolidating Sumar amid internal tensions, and fulfilling the grand promises made during the election campaign (see quote above).
Ursula von der Leyen
Role: President of the European Commission
Age: 65
Country: Germany
“It is important for us to achieve policies with results, in a world that is changing. We must provide trust and security in this era of changes.”
Ursula von der Leyen has steadfastly supported military aid to Ukraine, worked to bring Kiev as close as possible to joining the EU, upheld sanctions against Russia, and advocated for Europe's "strategic autonomy." She has been instrumental in the application of Next Generation EU, prioritizing the battle for climate and nature as a key agenda for the executive power of the 27 member states. In her fifth and final year leading the European Commission, she has demonstrated remarkable strength, endurance, and resilience, navigating through the major crises of our era, from the COVID-19 pandemic to wars. Now, she is poised to continue her role as a prominent leader on the world stage.
Olena Zelenska
Role: First Lady of Ukraine
Age: 45
Country: Ukraine
“I do not want my husband to run for office again”
Olena Zelenska has served as the First Lady during a time of war for almost two years. Following last year's controversial Vogue cover, throughout 2023 she dedicated herself to supporting organizations dealing with PTSD care, particularly for Ukrainian children who cannot leave the country and still face limited access to schools due to the war. In an interview with The Economist, she expressed her wish for her husband not to seek a second term. This desire stems from the toll that politics and war have taken on her family's life, especially impacting her children. There might be more behind her words, considering that when her husband decided to run for office in 2019, she was the last to know, finding out through television broadcasts. As a woman coping with the repercussions of a war she neither wanted nor chose, which has been largely driven and decided by men, her stance reflects the profound personal and national impacts of the conflict.
Roberta Metsola
Role: President of the European Parliament
Age: 44
Country: Malta
“20th December 2023 will go down in history. The day the EU reached a landmark agreement on a new set of rules to manage migration and asylum. Europe has once again defied the odds. I’m very proud that with the Migration & Asylum Pact, we have delivered and provided solutions.”
Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, a key aspect of her political actions this year. She was the first EU institution representative in 2022 to visit Kyiv shortly after the Russian withdrawal and has consistently backed the EU's expansion. The year wasn't easy for the Eurochamber, rocked by the Qatargate scandal. Within weeks of the scandal, Metsola introduced a plan to enhance "transparency and ethics," which garnered both praise and criticism. She was the first representative of the EPP, after President Weber's attempts to create alternative alliances with the ECR's conservatives, to acknowledge in an interview that “there are distinctive differences between the EPP and ECR political parties. And these differences will not change” following the European elections: alliances are made only with pro-Europe groups.
Masih Alinejad
Role: Journalist
Age: 47
Country: Iran
“For the Islamic Republic of Iran compulsory hijab is like the Berlin Wall. If it’s torn down the Islamic Republic won’t exist anymore. That’s why these protests scare them and they are shooting innocent people.”
Masih Alinejad stands as a symbol for all Iranian women fighting for their freedom. For years, she has bravely opposed her country's theocracy and the mandatory hijab for women, risking her life in the process. Forced to migrate to the USA, she has faced constant attacks and lives under protection. Her free and rebellious hair symbolizes revolution, inspiring thousands of women who have cut their own hair in the name of the freedom they cannot surrender. She is a beacon of hope for those living under similar regimes and is one of the most followed and influential feminists in the world.
Vera Politkovskaya
Role: Journalist and TV Author, daughter of Anna Politkovskaya
Age: 43
Country: Russia
“My mother was always an uncomfortable person, not only for the Russian authorities, but also for ordinary people. She wrote the naked truth about soldiers, bandits and civilians who ended up in the meat grinder of war. She spoke of pain, blood, death, dismembered bodies and broken destinies.”
In a heart-wrenching and persistent book, Vera has narrated what it means to be the daughter of a journalist murdered on her own doorstep due to her uncompromising and provocative investigations. Her mother, Anna, died in 2006 when Vera was just in her twenties, long before the war in Ukraine. Today, Vera and her siblings are still without justice, as the mastermind behind their mother's murder has never been convicted. They also have to bear the pain and anger of knowing that one of the convicts for the murder was pardoned after fighting in Ukraine. This is similar to the thousands of other former prisoners, including serial killers and psychopaths, sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the front as "human material," the very subject Anna wrote about and passionately condemned.
What are your thoughts on these incredible women? Share your reflections in the comments below and encourage friends to join the conversation by sharing this story on social media.
As we conclude Part 1 of "Celebrating the Influential Women of 2023," we invite you to continue this inspiring journey in Part 2. Here, we will explore the remarkable achievements of women in sports and science, highlighting their unparalleled contributions and groundbreaking advancements. Join us in celebrating these champions and pioneers who are not only excelling in their fields but also paving the way for future generations. Stay tuned for more stories of extraordinary women shaping our world.
S.A. Sterling
Source: Le Donne del 2023 secondo il Corriere della Sera, La Ventisettesima Ora, Corriere della Sera, December 2023, https://www.corriere.it/cronache/donne-anno-2023/index.shtml