It’s still a sad truth in life that being born a woman presents some unique challenges. We’ve had to fight tooth and nail for every right, and we still haven’t achieved full equality. But from earning the right to vote to showing powerful men that time’s up, we’ve proven again and again that we are strong and we can overcome.
If you need to be reminded of your inner badass, read these 24 inspirational quotes about women being strong and who have broken the glass ceiling, refused to give up and learned to celebrate and love themselves — often while navigating careers and motherhood.
1. “Sex, like race, is a visible, immutable characteristic bearing no necessary relationship to ability.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg
2. “I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” — Sarah Moore Grimké
3. “I’ve never been like anybody else in my life, and I’m not going to start now.” — Serena Williams
4. “We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.” — Beyoncé
5. “Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourself in a way that others might not see you, simply because they’ve never seen it before.” — Vice President Kamala Harris
6. “I love women who are bosses and who don’t constantly worry about what their employees think of them.” — Mindy Kaling
7. “Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.” — Hillary Clinton
8. “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” — Oprah Winfrey
9. “If we’re having conversations about gender equity and we’re not including trans people, we’re not really having conversations.” — Laverne Cox
10. “You cannot doubt yourself. Doubt is a killer.” — Jennifer Lopez
11. “Young girls need to see role models in whatever careers they may choose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday. You can’t be what you can’t see.” — Sally Ride
12. “You’re allowed to love yourself first. You’re allowed to put yourself first. You’re allowed to be in love with yourself.” — Zendaya
13. “There is no greater threat to the critics, cynics and fearmongers than a person who is willing to fall because she’s learned how to RISE.” — Brené Brown
14. “Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It’s about making life more fair for women everywhere.” — Gloria Steinem
15. “For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” — Amanda Gorman
16. “Bring all of yourself to life. And if you’re told you’re ‘too much’ — smile and think: Maybe. Or maybe their capacity is too small?” — Glennon Doyle
17. “I am not lucky. You know what I am? I am smart, I am talented, I take advantage of opportunities that come my way, and I work really, really hard. Don’t call me lucky. Call me a badass.” — Shonda Rhimes
18. “At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.” — Frida Kahlo
19. “I’m not going to limit myself just because people won’t accept the fact that I can do something else.” — Dolly Parton
20. “Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, instead of two sets of opposing ideals.” — Emma Watson
21. “You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness. But still, like air, I rise.” — Maya Angelou
22. “We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” — Malala Yousafzai
23. “I believe feminism is grounded in supporting the choices of women, even if we wouldn’t make certain choices for ourselves.” — Roxane Gay
24. “Choose to fight only righteous fights because then when things get tough — and they will — you will know that there is only one option ahead of you: Nevertheless, you must persist.” — Elizabeth Warren
