Every March, the world comes together to celebrate women's strength, achievements, and impact, not just in history but in our daily lives. International Women’s Day (IWD) is a time to reflect on the incredible progress women have made, the barriers that have been broken, and the voices that continue to push for a better, more inclusive future.
This year, we want to honour three remarkable women: Ogino Ginko, Margaret Sanger & Nancy Brinker. They changed the face of health and wellness for future generations. Their journeys were not easy. They faced rejection, criticism, and resistance, but they persisted. And because they did, millions of women today have access to better healthcare, more choices, and the freedom to take charge of their well-being.
Their stories remind us that when women uplift one another, fight for change, and refuse to back down, history is rewritten.
So, let’s celebrate them. Let’s celebrate you. Because every woman, in her own way, is shaping the future.
Three Women Pioneers Who Shaped Health & Wellness
1. Ogino Ginko (1851–1913): The First Female Doctor in Japan Who Fought for Women’s Dignity
Imagine a time when women weren’t allowed to see a female doctor, even for the most intimate of health issues. That was the reality in Japan during Ogino Ginko’s time, and it was this very struggle that led her to redefine the medical landscape for women.
As a young woman, Ogino suffered from a reproductive illness but was forced to seek care from male doctors, an experience that left her feeling deeply uncomfortable. She realised that countless other women were facing the same distress, and she was determined to change that. She decided to become Japan’s first female physician.
But her journey was anything but easy. Medical schools refused to admit women, and society didn’t believe a woman could (or should) be a doctor. She persisted against all odds, studying tirelessly and finally earning her medical license in 1885. This was groundbreaking for the first time, Japanese women had a female doctor they could turn to for their most private health concerns.
2. Margaret Sanger (1879–1966): The Woman Who Fought for Reproductive Freedom
There was a time when simply talking about birth control was considered illegal. But Margaret Sanger refused to stay silent. Her fight for reproductive rights changed the lives of millions of women across the world.
As a nurse, Margaret witnessed the devastating effects of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, especially among women who had little to no control over their reproductive health. She believed that women should have the right to make informed choices about their bodies and futures.
In 1916, she opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, which led to her arrest. But even jail couldn’t stop her, she continued to write, educate, and advocate, eventually playing a key role in the development of the first oral contraceptive pill.
3. Nancy Brinker (b. 1946): The Woman Who Took a Personal Loss and Turned It into a Global Movement Against Breast Cancer
Nancy Brinker’s story is one of love, loss, and an unbreakable promise. In 1980, she lost her beloved sister, Susan G. Komen, to breast cancer at just 36 years old. Before Susan passed, she made Nancy promise to do something to end breast cancer—and Nancy did just that.
In 1982, Nancy founded the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which has since become the world’s largest breast cancer organisation. Her mission? To ensure that no woman has to face breast cancer alone and to fund research that could one day lead to a cure.
Through her tireless work, she helped normalise breast cancer awareness, making sure that pink ribbons became more than just a symbol—they became a movement. Today, millions of women worldwide receive better screening, treatment, and support thanks to her advocacy.
These three women, Ogino Ginko, Margaret Sanger, and Nancy Brinker may have come from different backgrounds and fought different battles, but they all had one thing in common: They believed in change, and they never gave up.
Let’s honour those who came before us by continuing to break barriers, uplift each other, and shape a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive.
