TIME’s annual list pays homage to the women who are trailblazers in their respective fields.
International Women’s Day is fast approaching and in anticipation, TIME has released its annual list of Women of the Year. The list consists of 12 figures, each a trailblazer in their own way.
From arts and sports to science and activism, these women have achieved plenty over the past year and it’s time to celebrate them.
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The Creatives and Athletes
This year’s magazine cover features filmmaker Greta Gerwig. The director has had a busy year at the helm of Barbie. It was the biggest movie of the year, earning $1.4 billion at the box office and becoming the highest-grossing film directed by a woman.
From indie movies to mainstream successes, Gerwig will be taking on The Chronicles of Narnia next. Known for her realistic, emotional, and honest portrayal of women, the filmmaker is just happy to be able to keep doing what she loves.
In the same industry, Taraji P. Henson made waves when she opened up about her struggle with receiving fair pay as a Black woman. Best known for her roles in Empire and Hidden Figures, Henson was promoting the new adaptation of The Color Purple when the topic came up. As an award-winning actress, she knows her worth and isn’t afraid to fight for what she deserves.
Meanwhile, in music, Andra Day burst into the scene with the inspirational song “Rise Up.” After earning Grammy, Golden Globe, and Oscar nominations, Day sang at this year’s Super Bowl. Instead of the usual “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the singer took this opportunity to perform the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
As for literature, the 24th poet laureate of the U.S. Ada Limón won a MacArthur “genius” grant last year. Later this year, her work will be sent out to space, engraved inside the Europa Clipper which aims to orbit Jupiter by 2030.
The only athlete in the list, tennis player Coco Gauff, won her first Grand Slam championship at just 19 years old last year. Aside from dominating the sport, Gauff uses her platform to shed light on her advocacies, including racial and gender equity, as she told The Washington Post.
For Peace and Justice
After months of war and countless casualties, the women of Palestine and Israel who are calling for peace deserve the recognition. The women’s movements from both sides have formed a historic partnership, seeking a nonviolent resolution to the conflict.
Originally from Iraq and now resettled in Germany, Nadia Murad also dreams of a safe space for women and children. In 2014, Islamic State fighters kidnapped and abused her and nearly 6,000 others for three months. Now she has the chance to advocate for survivors of violence, with her work earning her a Nobel Peace Prize in 2018.
Over in Texas, Jacqui Patterson is a leader in climate justice. Her organization, The Chisholm Legacy Project, takes the intersection of environmental issues, poverty, and racial and gender discrimination into account.
Pioneers in Their Fields
Chanel’s global CEO Leena Nair took on the role in the beginning of 2022. Since then, she’s been practicing leadership that “celebrates compassion, empathy, and kindness,” according to TIME. Now, women hold more than 60% of management positions at Chanel. Nair also increased funding for the company’s philanthropic organization, which aims to empower women and girls worldwide.
Meanwhile, economist Claudia Goldin has dedicated her career to studying women and work. She became the third woman to win the Nobel Prize in economics and is the first woman to win it on her own.
In the field of medicine, geneticist Marlena Fejzo suffered from debilitating nausea during one of her pregnancies. After being diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and having her condition downplayed by male doctors, she took it upon herself to study the condition. Years later, her findings have brought us closer to finding treatment that may help ease pregnancy for many women in the future.
Banner image via Instagram @tarajiphenson.
