1. Nepal appoints its first female president and Iran
appoints its first female ambassador since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
2. Women in Saudi Arabia vote for the first time, and the
country gets 17 female councillors in a historic election.
3. Russia sent an all- female crew of astronauts, including
6 scientists on a mission to the moon.
4. The Pentagon chief opens all-combat jobs to women in the
military.
5. Pakistan opened its first women's department within a
firefighter training organization. Shazia Parveen became the first and only
female firefighter in the country.
6. Nigeria and Gambia outlawed Female Genital Mutilation.
7. Ireland became the first country to legalize same-sex
marriage, by popular vote.
8. Afghan men associated with the Afghan Peace Volunteers,
wore burkas and marched for women's rights in Kabul.
9. Women raise their voices in their acceptance speeches.
Viola Davis addressed the problem of discrimination that women of color have to
deal with on a daily basis in her powerful Emmy acceptance speech, and PatriciaArquette talked about the need for wage equality in Hollywood and for equal
rights for women in the United States in her Oscar acceptance speech.
10. Caitlyn Jenner was 'born', becoming the face of
transgendered people, and raising awareness of their struggles.
11. The Feminism Awakens. Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out and with a prominent
female protagonist, who is a badass feminist.
12. Pornstar, Stoya, accused her ex and fellow pornstar,
James Deen, of rape. She was backed by support from all quarters and her
courageous move shed light on the rights of sex workers and the importance of
consent.
