Carolina Maria de Jesus (1914-1977) The Mother Who Wrote Her Way Out Of Poverty Brash, funny, and difficult, this mother of three wrote her way out of extreme poverty with her uncompromising look at Brazilian society - and was alternately lauded and berated for it.
Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007) Mother of Pakistan The exiled daughter of a deposed ruler, she could have been a fairytale bridge between worlds - but fairy tales are not real. Benazir, whose name means "without flaw," was anything but.
Bella Abzug (1920-1998) The Mother Who Went to Washington Loud, proud, uncompromising: this bold politician helped bring about Title IX, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Equal Rights Amendment - as well as much more.
Arwa al-Sulayhi (c.1048-1131) The Mother of Yemen's Golden Age The greatest ruler of Yemeni history, she defeated her numerous foes to usher the country into its golden age.
Angela Jimenez (1896-1982) The Mom Who Lived a Dozen Lives Tomboy, daughter, spy, soldier, foster mom, innkeeper, gold miner, nurse, activist; veteran: Angela Jimenez doesn't need a movie so much as a mini-series.
Ada Blackjack (1898-1983) The Mother Who Survived the Arctic The lone survivor of an ill-fated scientific expedition, this Inuit woman persevered for two years on a remote arctic island in order to get money to treat her ill son.
Neerja Bhanot (1963-1986) Heroine of the Hijack When terrorists hijacked her plane, she gave her life to save it, becoming the youngest recipient of India's highest honor.
Phoolan Devi (1963-2001) The Bandit Queen Who Joined Parliament This "untouchable" woman ended decades of abuse by starting a bandit gang and avenging the lower castes. After some time in prison, she got out, ran for parliament, and won.
Malinche (c.1496-1529) The Maligned Mother of Mexico Sold into sexual slavery to Hernan Cortes, this maligned woman became his interpreter, and it was with her words that the Aztec Empire fell.
Arawelo (c.15 CE) Greatest - or Worst - Queen of Somalian History Somalia’s ballsiest queen, she took power from men either figuratively or literally – by ordering much of the gender castrated. Hero or villain, depending on who’s doing the telling, she remains one of Africa’s most divisive figures.