In recent years more and more societies all over the world have begun to recognize the vital contributions of women to commerce, their communities, and civic life. Whether it be Afghan women voting in a presidential election or women starting micro-businesses in Ethiopia, the worldwide trend toward greater equality is clear. Yet "the denial of women's basic human rights is persistent and widespread," as a 2005 United Nations Population Fund statement put it.
To commemorate International Women's Day, March 8, and National Women's History Month, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs (IIP) has created an electronic publication that highlights the achievements of some notable women in American history and their role in shaping today's democratic society in the United States. These women — from the Native-American Sacagawea, who guided white settlers through a vast wilderness, to Sojourner Truth, who fought for the end of slavery and equal rights for all, to Jeannette Rankin, who spoke for the health of women and children in Congress — believed that they had a contribution to make and did not shrink from the obstacles in their way. This account of their accomplishments is a reminder that all societies benefit from the talents and expertise of their women.
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