As women, it can be particularly irksome when we see a list of the “world’s most famous speeches,” only to find that they’re given all by men. Too many of these male-dominated lists populate our search engine results, so we decided to dedicate much-needed space to celebrating the great speeches in history given by girls and women. Whether you look at public speaking through the lens of gender or not, famous speeches by women have been among the most impactful and inspirational of all time, and nearly all that we’ve read still ring incredibly true and relevant today. If you are an aspiring female orator looking for inspiration and reassurance that your message has a place on the stage or in the streets, rest assured that you will feel empowered and motivated to use your voice by the time you’ve read through this list of famous speeches by women.
What Makes A Famous Speech Powerful?
When you think about famous speeches by women, what comes to mind? If you can’t think of many, you’re not alone. Our history textbooks haven’t exactly done women much justice in this category. In fact, we’ve found that a lot of language surrounding “powerful” and “famous” speeches is traditionally very male-centric. But, by now we should all know that power looks more feminine than ever, and that wouldn’t be the case without the women who have paved the way. So, what exactly gives speeches power?
Voice
There are few things as powerful as having a command over your own distinct own voice. Your voice is what makes you you, and nobody can take that away from you. It makes you memorable, recognizable, and unlike anyone else. When a speaker has a handle on her own voice, she can begin to leverage it to make an impact. Do you have a grasp on your unique voice?
Presence
Like voice, presence is connected to (and inseparable from) your very sense of being. Your presence is what fills the room when you walk in; it’s the feeling that overcomes a crowd when you walk onto the stage. It’s your posture, your style, the energy that emanates from your body. A presence can be felt without a word being spoken. In three words, can you describe your presence? How can you work it to your advantage?
Purpose
All of our favorite famous speeches by women are filled with a sense of purpose. Your purpose is your “why.” It’s the mission statement that drives every word from your mouth. Without a sense of purpose, your words will lack cohesion and will ultimately fall flat. When you lack purpose, you lack focus. So it’s crucial to find your “why,” even if that’s flexible or subject to change.
Impact
Finally, impact refers to the results and consequences from your address, whether direct or indirect. Impact can be measured in infinite ways, but it’s a good idea for you to have a goal in mind before giving birth to your talk. Perhaps the ultimate measure of “power” in famous speeches by women is how history remembers their impact.
What Can We Learn From These Famous Speeches By Women?
We wouldn’t simply tell you what makes a powerful speech without pointing you to some real-world examples, so we’ve curated some of the best for you! The following list of famous speeches by women were hand-picked for their craft, historical significance, diverse perspectives, and modern relevance. These eleven famous speeches by women include political addresses, activists’ and acceptance speeches, eulogies, commencement speeches, and more. The variety of categories alone goes to show that a great address can be given in any setting, at any occasion. While it’s nearly impossible to narrow down the hundreds of famous speeches by women that deserve recognition, we hope the following eleven will leave you inspired to read even more and, of course, implement some of the takeaways into your own public speaking.
Viola Davis | Oscar Acceptance, 2017
In 2017, Viola Davis, a trailblazer for Black women in Hollywood, won the Oscar for best Supporting Actress in the film Fences. Her gritty acceptance delved into what it means to be an artist and human. Whereas most acceptance speeches rush through a list of thanks or take brief political jabs, Davis inspired the world by inviting it into a discussion about the meaning of art. Without a dry eye in the room by the end, the audience was left empowered not just to create art, but to live life as art. When it comes to speeches by women, Viola’s acceptance speech is one of the most memorable in modern times.
“People ask me all the time, what kind of stories do you want to tell, Viola? And I say, exhume those bodies. Exhume those stories. The stories of the people who dreamed big and never saw those dreams to fruition. People who fell in love and lost. I became an artist—and thank God I did—because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life.”
Malala Yousafzai | UN Speech, 2013
In 2013, on her 16th birthday, Malala Yousafzai delivered a speech to the UN discussing the crisis of tens of millions of children around the world who don’t have access to any kind of education. Her brave speech was openly defiant to the Taliban and sent shockwaves through the international community. Presidents and prime ministers around the world followed the lead of this Pakistani teenager in taking meaningful action in combating the issues surrounding education brought to light by Malala.
“So here I stand, one girl among many. I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to live in peace. Their right to be treated with dignity. Their right to equality of opportunity. Their right to be educated.”
Michelle Obama | DNC Speech, 2012
Michelle Obama, the first Black First Lady of the United States, delivered one of the most famous speeches by women during the 2012 Democratic National Convention that was widely recognized among the most famous speeches given by a woman. Several major outlets heralded the speech as unique and unconventional to campaign speeches. The First Lady was lauded for showing real emotion — not that standard, manufactured intonation so familiar to these types of addresses.
“…If women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote, if a generation could defeat a depression and define greatness for all time, if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream, and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love- then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.”
Liz Gilbert | “Your Elusive Creative Genius” TED Talk, 2009
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, is a creative force whose work has centered around inspiring others to create. Her 2009 TED Talk is the best of her motivational teaching on display and one of the most memorable of all famous speeches by women.
“Ole! to you, nonetheless, just for having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up.”
Greta Thunberg | UN Address, 2019
One of the most impactful and lasting moments of the decades-long fight against climate change was a speech delivered by Greta Thunberg, just 16 at the time, at the UN’s Climate Action Summit. One of the great famous speeches by women and girls, Greta’s harsh and clear rhetoric was so striking that it seemed to drive up the sense of urgency from leaders and the entire world overnight.
“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words… People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you! For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you’re doing enough, when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight.”
Emma Watson | UN Address, 2014
Actress and UN Ambassador Emma Watson gave one of the best-ever speeches by women in New York in 2014 that resulted in a standing ovation from the assembly. Her ability to combine statistics with a portrait of gender inequality gave the speech breadth and depth that altered the attitudes and rhetoric around feminist issues for our modern age.
“My recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive. Why is the word such an uncomfortable one?”
Oprah Winfrey | Golden Globe Acceptance, 2018
Legendary talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey has made her fair share of stellar speeches. Perhaps among her most poignant was her 2018 acceptance of the Cecil B. deMille Award, an honorary Golden Globe bestowed for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. The nine-minute speech earned a standing ovation with few dry eyes in the room. Winfrey wove together a tribute to women past and present – all while calling to action a world in which no one should have to say #MeToo again. She acknowledged the little girls she would inspire as the first Black woman to receive this award, much as she was inspired when she watched Sidney Poitier win an Oscar in 1964. Winfrey dedicated much of her speech to the late Recy Taylor, who lived long enough to see the #MeToo movement take the world by storm, as well as Hollywood’s acknowledgement of her brutal attack by six white men (who were never prosecuted) with a documentary titled The Rape of Recy Taylor. Patining a narrative of generations-long violence of men against women, particularly women of color, Oprah finished with a statement of hope: “Their time is up.”
“I want tonight to express gratitude to all the women who have endured years of abuse and assault, because they, like my mother, had children to feed and bills to pay and dreams to pursue…. I want all the girls watching here now to know that a new day is on the horizon.”
Hillary Clinton | “Women’s Rights Are Human Rights, ” 1995
In 1995, this speech by Hillary Clinton at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing marked a watershed moment for women’s rights. Defying both US administration and Chinese pressure to dilute her remarks, she went straight for the jugular in a full-blown attack against policies abusing “unheard” women around the globe. Her manifesto was clear and her words were filled with truth when she said:
“If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights once and for all.”
Dolores Huerta | Grape Strike Speech, 1966
In an effort to combat cruel working conditions inflicted upon Latino and migrant workers by California grape farmers in the 1960s, Dolores Huerta helped organize a strike that would garner national attention and lead to a decisive win for the workers in labor negotiations. She delivered one of the most famous speeches by women ever at the 1966 National Farm Workers Association rally. While this address was given over fifty years ago, Huerta’s words are used to this day as a framework for labor movements around the world.
“The day has ended when the farm worker will let himself be used as a pawn by employers, government, and others who would exploit them for their own ends. La huelga and la causa is our cry, and everyone must listen.”
Nora Ephron | Commencement Address at Wellesley College, 1996
Nora Ephron’s 1996 address to the graduating class of Wellesley College is memorable for the way she wove practical, real-world women’s issues with the reassurance that women have the strength and ability to triumph in the face of these obstacles. Her voice and tone were distinct — like an older and wiser friend giving the best advice over drinks.
“Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there. And I also hope that you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women… The first act of your life is over. Welcome to the best years of your lives.”
Maya Angelou’s | Eulogy for Coretta Scott King, 2006
At a funeral filled with presidents, civil rights leaders, and celebrities, Maya Angelou’s eulogy for Coretta Scott King stood out for how she painted a three-dimensional picture of King. Angelou walked the tightrope of speaking as a fellow Black rights activist and friend, and the result was a speech that was poetic, historical, and sentimental.
“She believed non-violent protest religiously to lift up a nation ripe with racial prejudices and racial bias. She was the quintessential African American woman, born in the small town repressive south, born of flesh and destined to become iron, born a cornflower and destined to become a steel magnolia.”
Where To Now?
If you read these excerpts of famous speeches by women and pictured yourself in any of these brilliant women’s shoes, you might be destined to be a famous orator. If you have a story to tell or a message to convey, remember these takeaways from famous women in history and their great speeches. If you’re not sure where to start, consider professional speechwriting services from WritersBlok. Our ghostwriters are ready to learn your story, capture your voice, and empower you both on and off the page.
Originally posted on my company blog, The WritersBlok