Imagine this: It’s 10,000 BC, and a woman discovers farming. Boom! Society begins.
Fast forward to 2025, and women are now leading Fortune 500 companies, designing AI, flying fighter jets, heading counties and let’s be honest the question of who will manage home, kids and cook food remains the same!
From shaping civilizations to breaking barriers, women have played an incredibly important role in society which is often neglected. Their contributions span science, business, politics, arts, and social movements.
Yet, history has mostly credited men, conveniently leaving women out of the equation who ran the show behind the scenes.
It’s time to change that. Let’s take a journey through time – from ancient civilizations to the 21st century and beyond – to truly understand how women have shaped, are shaping, and will shape the world we live in.
Ancient Times: Women, The First Innovators
Long before spreadsheets, email chains, and conference calls, women(care) were already organizing and managing societies.
The First Farmers
While men hunted, women were the ones who pioneered agriculture, leading to the first settled civilizations. No farming? No food. No food? No civilization.
The First Doctors & Scientists
In ancient Egypt, women like Merit-Ptah (2700 BC) practiced medicine. In Mesopotamia, female scholars contributed to early astronomy and mathematics.
Powerful Female Rulers
Cleopatra (Egypt), Hatshepsut (Egypt), Empress Wu Zetian (China), and Rani Durgavati (India) were leaders who shaped their nations.
The First Entrepreneurs
Babylonian women owned businesses, traded textiles, and handled finances while the men were out waging wars.
Women (Women’s Day 2025) weren’t just part of the society; they were helping society and were building it!
The Middle Ages: Pushing Through the Shadows
Society may have tried to push women into the background, but they refused to be silenced.
The Uncredited Scholars
Women like Hildegard of Bingen contributed to science, philosophy, and medicine while men took credit.
The Warriors
Joan of Arc, an army at 17 had proved that battlefield strategy wasn’t just a “man’s job”.
The Silent Innovators
Women’s work in textiles, herbs, and midwifery laid the foundation for future medical and industrial advancements.
Even though patriarchal structures became stronger, however, women continued running economies, shaping politics, and influencing cultural shifts.
The Industrial & Early 20th Century: The Silent Revolution
Then came the biggest shift – The Industrial Revolutions
Women in Factories
Women (Women’s Day 2025) became the backbone of factories, working for long hours and keeping economies alive.
The Right to vote Movement
Enter the suffragettes, Susan B. Anthony, Emmeline Pankhurst, and Sarojini Naidu fought relentlessly to win women’s voting rights.
Women in Science & Innovation
- Marie Curie discovered radioactivity.
- Ada Lovelance created the first computer algorithm (Take that, Silicon Valley!)
- Katherine Johnson’s calculations sent men to the moon (Yo, NASA, you’re welcome!)
Despite all these groundbreaking contributions, women are still expected to focus on raising kids and managing the home.
There’s nothing wrong with that – women have been doing it for ages. But the point is, if they can manage that, they can certainly manage anything else they’re passionate about too.
Mid-21st Century: The Era of “We’re Not Asking Anymore”
The mid-20th century wasn’t about “waiting for change” – it was about demanding it.
World War II : Women Took Over the Workforce
When men went off to war, women (Women’s Day 2025) became factory workers, engineers, and even spies. The iconic Rosie the Riveter wasn’t just a poster – she was real.
The Civil Rights & Women’s Rights Movements
- Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.
- Gloria Steinem & Betty Friedan launched the feminist movement.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for women’s legal rights (including the right to open a bank account without a man’s permission!).
Breaking into Politics & Business
- Margaret Thatcher & Indira Gandhi proved women could lead nations.
- Oprah Winfrey built an empire from scratch.
- Women CEOs emerged, still boardrooms remained male-dominated.
This phase marked a turning point – women weren’t waiting for permission anymore; they were demanding and mastering their duties.
Welcome to 2025: The Era of No Limits
Fast forward to today, and women are leading the charge in almost every field:
Business & Economy
Today, women are running 10% of Fortune 500 companies. Still not enough, but progress is progress. This rise of women entrepreneurs has led to groundbreaking innovations.
STEM & Innovation
From AI research to space missions, women are at the forefront of technological advancements.
Politics & Social Change
More women are now leading countries and changing policies than at any point in history.
Sports & Media
Women’s sports are breaking records, and female-led movies are topping the box office.
Despite these wins, the struggle isn’t over yet:
The issue of gender pay gap still exists.
Women still face workplace discrimination and fewer leadership opportunities.
Social expectations still pressure women to “balance it all” perfectly.
Nevertheless, here’s the deal – if women aren’t given a seat at the table anymore, they now build the damn table!
So, what’s Next?!
Celebrating Women’s Day 2025 is great, but let’s move beyond just talking and posting about it.
Here’s what we can all do:
Invest in women – Support women-led businesses.
Hire more women – Particularly in leadership roles.
Encourage STEM education – More female scientists & engineers mean a better future.
Push for workplace equity – Equal pay, equal promotions, and a safe work environment.
History has already proven one thing – when women rise, society doesn’t just improve, in fact it thrives.
In a Nutshell : Women Don’t Need Permission – They Need Recognition
From ancient civilizations to today, women have been shaping society, often without credit.
So, the next time someone asks, “What have women contributed to society?”—just smile and say, “Everything.”
Also, the time has come to accept the reality—God has made women differently, as bearers and reproducers.
There will be phases in a woman’s life when her focus naturally shifts to birthing and raising kids.
But when she’s ready, she comes back. This shouldn’t be seen as a weakness; rather, it’s a strength. That’s how God designed women, and questioning creation is a waste of time.
Instead, we should focus on finding solutions, planning policies, and creating work environments that are favorable for everyone.
