TOMORROW is International Women's Day - a global day to celebrate the social, economic, political, and cultural achievements of women from all over the world.

Here is a list of inspirational women connected to Oxford:

Professor Sarah Gilbert - designer of the Oxford/Astra-Zeneca vaccine:

Oxford Mail: Professor Sarah GillbertProfessor Sarah Gillbert

Professor Sarah Gilbert is the vaccinologist who led the team behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

The jab is one of the vaccines that has been critical in the fight against coronavirus.

Prof Gilbert joined Oxford University in 1994.

This week she was awarded the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) Albert Medal because of her contributions to a 'global common good'.

Malala Yousafzai - Nobel Peace Prize winner and women’s right to education activist

Oxford Mail: Malala YousafzaiMalala Yousafzai (Image: PA)

Malala was born in Pakistan in 1997.

After speaking publically and campaigning for young women's rights to gain an education, she was shot on the school bus on her way home.

She woke up 10 days later in a hospital in Birmingham.

Since the incident, after months of surgery and rehabilitation, Malala continued to fight for every girl's right to attend school.

She then established the Malala Fund, a charity dedicated to giving every girl an opportunity to achieve the future she chooses.

Because of this work, she was given the Nobel Peace Prize and became the youngest-ever Nobel Laurette. 

In 2018 Malala started studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Lady Magaret Hall.

She graduated from the university last summer.

Emma Watson - actress and UN Goodwill Ambassador 

Oxford Mail: Emma WatsonEmma Watson

Emma Watson grew up in Oxford, attending the Dragon School and Headington School for girls.

Watson grew to fame when she played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series.  

Other than her acting, Watson is a feminist. 

In 2014 she was appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. 

Later that year she delivered an address to the UN Headquarters in New York to launch her HeforShe campaign - a campaign advocating for gender equality. 

Indira Gandhi - First female Prime Minister of India

Oxford Mail: Indira Gandhi Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi came to England to take care of her ill mother.

She then decided to continue her education at Oxford University, attending Somerville College to study history.

Gandhi later returned to India where she became the first, and to this date, only female Prime Minister of India.

She served as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and then again from 1980 until she was assassinated in 1984.

Margaret Thatcher - first female Prime Minister of the UK

Oxford Mail: Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher studied chemistry at Somerville College, at the University of Oxford.

In 1975 she became the first female leader of the Conservative Party.

In 1979 she was elected as the first female Prime Minister of the UK.

She held this position until 1990.

Benazir Bhutto - first female Prime Minister of Pakistan

Oxford Mail: Benazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto attended Oxford University, at Lady Margaret Hall from 1973 to 1977.

During her time at Oxford, she became the first foreign president of the Oxford Union Society

Bhutto was elected as the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and then again from 1993 to 1996.

This election also meant that Bhutto was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim Majority country.

In Malala Yousafzai's autobiography, 'I am Malala', Bhutto was listed as one of her role models. 

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