“ I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life. ”
ContextThe line that became a flashpoint in Sotomayor's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, on lived experience shaping judgment.Read More: Latinx Voices
Their StoryThe first Latina and third woman to serve on the US Supreme Court, appointed in 2009. She grew up in a Bronx housing project, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, and has written about both in her memoir.Her memoir 'My Beloved World' is the fullest primary source for her own story.See Their Full Story
ContextSotomayor clarifying her 'wise Latina' remark during her confirmation hearing.Read More: Latinx Voices
Their StoryThe first Latina and third woman to serve on the US Supreme Court, appointed in 2009. She grew up in a Bronx housing project, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, and has written about both in her memoir.Her memoir 'My Beloved World' is the fullest primary source for her own story.See Their Full Story
ContextFrom the memoir of the first Latina US Supreme Court Justice, on effort outweighing self-doubt.Read More: Latinx Voices
Their StoryThe first Latina and third woman to serve on the US Supreme Court, appointed in 2009. She grew up in a Bronx housing project, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, and has written about both in her memoir.Her memoir 'My Beloved World' is the fullest primary source for her own story.See Their Full Story
“ If I was being 'sold' as a commodity of equal value to my male counterpart and worked as hard as him, I couldn't reconcile why I wasn't being remunerated equally. ”
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextBlanchett explaining why she walked away from a job over unequal pay.
Their StoryAustralian actor and two-time Academy Award winner who has been outspoken about pay equity in the film industry. She has served as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador since 2016, advocating for refugees.Her UNHCR field reports and interviews are the fullest primary sources for that side of her work.See Their Full Story
“ Industry and global institutions must appreciate that ensuring economic justice, equity and ecological integrity are of greater value than profits at any cost. ”
ContextMaathai on weighing ecological and economic justice above pure profit.Read More: Black Activism
Their StoryKenyan environmentalist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, in 2004. She founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, which has since organised the planting of tens of millions of trees across Kenya, led largely by women. She died in 2011.Her memoir 'Unbowed' and her Nobel lecture are the fullest primary sources.See Their Full Story
“ What I really aspire to do in the poem is to be able to use my words to envision a way in which our country can still come together and can still heal. ”
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextBiles on taking risks, from a gymnast who reshaped her sport and spoke openly about athletes' mental health.Read More: Women in Sport
Their StoryAmerican gymnast and the most decorated gymnast in world championship history. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics she withdrew from several events, citing her mental health and a disorientation known as 'the twisties', and returned to compete at the Paris 2024 Games.Her post-Tokyo and Paris interviews are the clearest primary sources for her own framing.See Their Full Story
“ It's important to make sure the people building software for our clients are representative of the people using it because they will more likely know what the users are going to ultimately need. ”
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextKochiyama, a Japanese-American activist, on solidarity and interdependence across movements.Read More: Asian Voices
Their StoryJapanese-American activist interned with her family during the Second World War, who went on to organise alongside Malcolm X and across the Black, Asian-American and Puerto Rican independence movements for the rest of her life. She died in 2014.Interviews and archival footage from her later life are the clearest primary sources.See Their Full Story
ContextWritten while Lorde was living with cancer. She meant survival as resistance, not self-care as a treat.Read More: Black Literature
Their StoryPoet, essayist and librarian who described herself as 'black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.' Born in New York in 1934 to Caribbean immigrant parents, she used poetry and essays to name what others left unsaid about race, sexuality, class and illness.Her essays 'The Master's Tools' and 'Uses of the Erotic' reward the full text.See Their Full Story
ContextFrom the same UN address as her more famous 'one child, one pen' line.
Their StoryPakistani education activist who campaigned for girls' schooling under Taliban rule, survived being shot in 2012, and became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate.Her UN address and 'I Am Malala' are well-documented primary sources.See Their Full Story
