Queen Elizabeth II
We’ve talked about moral strength, now let’s talk about longevity! Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-ruling queen in the history of Great Britain! She has been wearing that crown since 1952 (that’s 67 years) and at the age of 93 she shows no sign of stepping down from the throne! God Save the QUEEN!
Malala Yousafzai
As mentioned, physical strength is not the only type of strength. Take a look at Malala Yousafzai, who has won the Nobel Peace Prize. She campaigns (rather successfully, might I add) for the education of women in Pakistan. In October of 2012 she was the victim of an assassination attempt, and yet she persisted in her pursuit of equal education for everyone in Pakistan. That took a lot of courage and moral strength, and so she definitely belongs on the list of the world’s strongest women!
Harriet Tubman
Born Araminta Ross, in. March 1822, Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including family and friends.
She used the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. During the American Civil War, she served as an armed scout and spy for the Union Army. In her later years, Tubman was an activist in the movement for women’s suffrage.
Angela Merkel
We’ve covered moral strength, longevity, and now let’s get to endurance! Angela Merkel has been at the head of the German government for 14 years, serving as the Chancellor of Germany.
She has seen the country through a global economic recession, multiple EU tensions, and the ongoing global refugee crisis. Through it all, she has managed to ensure that Germany has one of the strongest economies in all of Europe. And yet, after all these years, she manages to see every challenge for what it is, and manage to handle it well!
Rosa Park
In 1955, Rosa Parks, an African American living in Montgomery, Alabama, challenged the race segregation that existed in parts of the US by refusing to give up her seat on a bus so that a white person could sit down. Her protest was supported by many other African Americans and sparked the civil rights movement which, in the 1960s, eventually won equal rights. Four years after her death in 2005, Barack Obama became the first African-American US president.
Magaret Thatcher
Britain’s first female prime minister came to power at an unsettled time in the country’s history, as it faced political disharmony and economic recession. Further trials, including the 1982 Falklands War and the conflict in Northern Ireland, helped to define her influential career.
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale led the first official team of British military nurses to Turkey during the Crimean War, fought between Britain and Russia (1853-56). More soldiers died from disease than wounds in this conflict and Nightingale – as well as tending the sick – reported back to the army medical services on how to reduce avoidable deaths. Nicknamed ‘the Lady with the Lamp’ for the night rounds she made tending to the wounded and sick, Nightingale continued in her work after the war and was instrumental in establishing a permanent military nursing service and implementing improvements to the army medical services.
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa, born in Albania, was a Roman Catholic nun who lived in India for most of her life. In 1950 she founded the Missionaries of Charity which attracted many sisters who took vows of chastity, poverty, obedience and free service to the poorest of the poor. The work that the order undertook, in over 130 countries, included managing homes for people who were dying, soup kitchens, orphanages and schools. Although criticised for her opposition to abortion, her charitable work changed the lives of many of the most vulnerable people in the world.
Virgin Mary
The mother of Jesus, Mary is venerated by both Christians and Muslims, and is proably the most famous woman in history. The actual details of her life are veiled as much as they are elucidated by the New Testament.
Your Mom
I know it’s difficult to see “your mom” and not immediately jump to a joke in bad taste, but if you really think about it, your mom legitimately is the strongest woman you know. She gave birth to you, she raised you, and she has loved you. In terms of “strength classifications” I think that over the years, your mom has managed to show all types of strength, from physical strength, endurance, to moral strength. Go tell your mom you love her while you still can.
