Women have had hundreds upon hundreds of reasons to carry protest posters since the dawn of time, whether it was for voting rights, reproductive rights, or most recently, against sexual predators holding powerful positions. What started with the first well-organized, not so peaceful protest for suffrage in as early as 1913, is now often supported by men also, who understand that feminism and related social issues are not some evil entity, but rather thinking of women as equals. Sadly enough, ladies still have to prove their worthiness to some.
To celebrate the strength and bravery of all the women and girls who have taken to the streets, stood up for their beliefs and gender equality, and stared down anyone who tried to get in their way, we've compiled the best photos of female social activists and protesters from around the world, and they're sure to speak to your renegade soul. They might even inspire you to get a protest sign in your own hands the next time you have a chance. Be sure to vote for the most powerful ones, and let us know if you've ever committed an act of defiance for a good cause in the comments.
#41 An Anti Government Protester Flashes A Victory Sign During The Clashes Between Protesters And Riot Police On Taksim Square In Istanbul, 22 June 2013
80points
#42 A Palestinian Woman Argues With An Israeli Border Policeman During A Protest Against Jewish Settlements In The West Bank Village Of Nabi Saleh
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80points
#43 A Turkish Riot Policeman Uses Tear Gas As People Protest Against The Destruction Of Trees In A Park Brought About By A Pedestrian Project, In Taksim Square In Central Istanbul, 28 May 2013
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79points
#44 Masked Women Protesting Against Gender Violence During A Demonstration In Madrid For The International Day Against Gender Violence, 25 November 2015
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#45 Chinese Riot Police Watch A Muslim Ethnic Uighur Woman Protest In Urumqi In China’s Far West Xinjiang Province Following A Third Day Of Unrest, 7 July 2009
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#46 Demonstrators Remove Their Brassieres During An Anti-Bra Protest Outside A San Francisco Department Store
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66points
#47 Semi-Nude Indian Devadasi Women Shout Anti-Government Slogans During A Protest In Mumbai, 15 August 2010
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63points
#48 An Afro-Ecuadorean Woman Argues With Police Guarding A Fence In Front Of The National Assembly In Quito. In Protest Of A Proposed Water Privatization Law That Could Impact The Country’s Indigenous Population, 5 May 2010
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#49 A Demonstrator Holds A Flower That She Says Is A Symbol Of Hope, 3 December 1999
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#50 A Woman Protester Waves The Victory Sign During Clashes With Military Police Near Tahrir Square, 17 January 2013
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#51 Police Arrest A Demonstrator Affiliated With The Occupy Wall Street Movement After She And Fellow Protesters Attempted To Cross The Brooklyn Bridge On The Motorway. The Arrested Woman Is Seen Screaming Out Her Name To Supporters On The Pedestrian Bridge Above Who Were Recording Names Of Those Arrested. This Portion Of The Bridge Is Not Intended For Pedestrians And As The Marchers Attempted To Cross, They Were Stopped Midway By Police. Hundreds Of Protesters Were Arrested, New York City, 1 October 2011
46points
#52 A Protest Led By Students For Justice In Palestine At The University Of Maryland, College Park, 2009
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#53 A Woman Argues With Belarus Police Officers Blocking A Street During An Opposition Rally In Minsk, Belarus As Hundreds Of People Were Arrested Over Protests Against Authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, 25 March 2017
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40points