My mom – It took awhile to get her on this list. I’d never really considered my mom inspiring when I was younger; no one talked about her in books or on TV… to me, she was just “my mom”. She was an immigrant, she was/is a nurse, she cleaned the house and got mad at me for not washing my hands or cleaning my room…. there was nothing extraordinary about her. Then I got older. Now, I think she’s the most amazing, capable woman there ever
was.
All the nuns I met in childhood – I went to Catholic school from K-8th grade. I had nuns as teachers and I saw nuns walking down the halls and in the cafeteria; I also lived near the school and went to church frequently, so I saw them everywhere and almost every day. They weren’t all warm and friendly, but they were… strong and their faith was so clear. It was inspiring. I even wanted to be nun! Even though I don’t anymore (and I wouldn’t even consider myself particularly religious at all now), my time with them has affected me deeply.
Joan of Arc – I had a very Catholic upbringing (obvs) and so there was a period where I wanted to be Joan of Arc (or at least some equivalent of a crazy fervent martyr saint).
Sojourner Truth
Hillary Clinton – I don’t agree with everything she’s done, but she seems formidable as hell. I always thought that was pretty great. See Scarlett O’Hara.
Yuri Kochiyama
Scarlett O’Hara – She’s fictional, but she’s a BAMF! (AS GOD AS MY WITNESS, I’LL NEVER BE HUNGRY AGAIN!)
Rosie the Riveter – See above.
Margaret Atwood – for her writing
Cory Aquino
So much more, but those are at the top of the heap. In my life (all 20 years of it, ha) it’s been women and their stories and struggles that have moved me and inspired me the most.