March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the advancement of women in society, commemorate the achievements of women of all races and sexual orientations, acknowledge the vital role that women have played in history, and recognize the progress that still must be accomplished in order to achieve gender equality internationally. Below, The Anchor spotlights two intelligent, powerful, and fearless young women from very different backgrounds who are both breaking glass ceilings, spearheading a variety of movements for positive change in modern society, and working tirelessly to advance the status of women and girls both nationally and globally.

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, 29

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, commonly referred to as AOC, is the newly elected U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district. Two years ago, she was a bartender in the Bronx. Today, she is one of the most prominent politicians in the United States of America, advocating for landmark environmental protection legislation as well as continuing her advocacy for the social and economic equality of women. With regards to how women are treated in the workplace, she stated, “Mentors of mine were under a big pressure to minimize their femininity to make it. I’m not going to do that. That takes away my power. I’m not going to compromise who I am.”

Malala Yousafzai, 21

Born in Mingora, Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai became active in working to address educational disparities at a very young age. Her father was a school owner, and beginning in 2009, Malala wrote blogs for the BBC about her experiences living as young girl in Pakistan as the Taliban’s power in her region expanded. In 2012, the Taliban shot Yousafzai when she was riding her school bus home. She survived the assassination attempt; however, she had to undergo several surgeries in the United Kingdom. Today, she attends Oxford University, one of the most prestigious schools in the world. Living in the UK with her family, she continues to fight for the right of every girl to receive an education without fear. She received a Nobel Peace Prize for her work in 2014. In her autobiography, I Am Malala, she writes, “I don’t want to be thought of as the ‘girl who was shot by the Taliban’ but the ‘girl who fought for education.’ This is the cause to which I want to devote my life.”