The ways women impact change in the different eras of humanity have changed through the years. However they all have one common denominator: labor against outstanding odds.

From Cleopatra, Catherine the Great, St. Catalina of Siena, St Theresa of Jesus, Marie Curie, Mother Terese, Anna Pavlova... even Chanel

Spirits full of life, love and an amazing common sense. A will to speak up when the cowards wouldn't, to come up with solutions out of desperation, to be respected leaders of families, nations or empires, to fight the world that would blame them for taking some action.

My mind goes now to Mukhtaran Bibi, an "indomitable peasant", sentenced in her tribe to be gang-raped because of some problems her brother has caused in her village. She then defied tradition by testifying against her attackers, sending them to prison, and she used compensation money to start elementary schools in her village, she is also campaigning against honor killings, rapes and acid attacks that disfigure women. Pakistan's president has tried to cover the problem up by trying to silence her voice, reason why she has been "retained" 3 times, but she always gets her freedom back. (Read the entire story)

Yes, aid and better governments may be a solution to some problems... but its a matter of will and the courage of people to make a place, any place, no matter the resources and conditions to improve there is always a road to improvement.