Cecile Richards (1957–2025), former Planned Parenthood president 

Cecile Richards was a women’s rights activist who served as president of both the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, as well as founding Supermajority, an organization devoted to bringing more women into politics.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020), influential U.S. Supreme Court justice

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, the second woman and the first Jewish woman appointed to the court in U.S. history.

Florence Howe (1929–2020), women’s studies pioneer

Florence Howe was a pioneer of women’s studies and the founder of the Feminist Press.  

Women's History Month: Legacies & Life Stories

Women accomplish amazing things every day, and that’s always worth celebrating. But in March, we take special notice of women’s achievements as we observe Women’s History Month.

Birch Bayh (1928–2019), “the father of Title IX”

Former Indiana senator was the author of the equal rights amendment.

Bernice Sandler (1928–2019), “Godmother of Title IX”

Bernice Sandler (1928–2019) played an integral part in the creation of the landmark Title IX law that prohibits sex discrimination by educational institutions that receive federal funding. The federal civil rights law was passed in 1972 and assures women have equal access to financial assistance, admissions, and other benefits. The law has had a major impact on equality in sports at high schools and colleges.

Emily Nasrallah (1931 – 2018), Lebanese author and women’s rights activist

Goethe medal award winner…

Asma Jahangir (1952 – 2018), prominent human rights activist in Pakistan

OnTime Magazine'slist of the 100 most influential womenf

The First Brave Woman Who Alleged ‘Sexual Harassment’

Before 1975, there was no such thing as “sexual harassment.” And then, on a university campus in upstate New York, one woman had had enough.

Babatunde Osotimehin (1949 - 2017), United Nations Population Fund director

U.N. Population Fund director fought for girls’, women’s rights...

Bella Abzug: 5 Things to Know About a Tough American Woman

Once upon a time in the 1970s, Americans looking for an example of a tough-as-nails woman who stood up on behalf of her community had Bella Abzug.

The Women Who Suffered for Suffrage

Thousands of women marching on Washington is nothing new. We remember the women of a century ago who took to the streets and demanded the right to vote.

14 Mighty Women Whose Bold Lives Will Inspire You

The basketball player who led the U.S. to victory over the Soviet Union. The top-secret flight engineer who helped write NASA's Planetary Flight Handbook. The journalist who shone a spotlight on President Nixon's corruption during the Watergate hearings. These women may not have marble monuments marking their accomplishments, but wow: They got stuff done .

Norma McCorvey (1947–2017), Roe v. Wade plaintiff

Plaintiff in the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion case.

Great American Women

As many thousands of Americans travel to the nation's capital this weekend to express their support for women's rights at the Women's March on Washington, we salute the valuable contributions women make every day — to their communities and the world at large. Click through the photos below for a closer look at 30 remarkable American women whose lives have left lasting legacies in science, politics, sports, business, the arts, and other fields.

International Women's Day

March 8 is International Women's Day, a day meant to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. At Legacy.com, we're revisiting some of our past coverage exploring incredible women's life stories.

Grace Lee Boggs (1915 - 2015)

Grace Lee Boggs, a longtime activist who was part of the labor, civil rights, black power, women's rights and environmental justice movements, died Monday at her Detroit home, The Associated Press reported. She was 100.

Susan B. Anthony, Temperance Fighter

Susan B. Anthony was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, but she wasn’t a single-issue activist. On the 105th anniversary of her death, we spotlight her work in the temperance movement.

The Betty Friedan Mystique

Betty Friedan , author of the landmark The Feminine Mystique , died five years ago today on her 85th birthday. We took a look back at her life and the impact of her work.

Ava Pauling's Vision of Peace

Ava Pauling, wife of renowned chemist Linus Pauling, was born on Christmas Eve in 1903. Today we look at her lifetime of work toward peace on Earth.

Jeannette Rankin, First U.S. Congresswoman

We celebrate Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, on the anniversary of her historic achievement.