Gender equality: These women made history in 2022

This article was first published in March 2022 and most recently updated in December 2022.

Role models are recognized as crucial to helping the world overcome gender bias. If women can see themselves represented, this helps achieve gender equality.

It will take another 132 years to achieve gender parity, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2022.

The annual index measures gender gaps in politics, health, education and economics. Political Empowerment is the biggest gap to close, with only 22% closed so far.

"More women in political leadership tends to create a powerful role model effect as well as decisions that represent broader parts of the population," notes the report.

By celebrating the ground-breaking achievements of strong women role models across the planet, barriers that prevent others following in their footsteps are broken down.

From politics to sport and entertainment, these women made history in 2022.

Labour Minister Élisabeth Borne became France's first female Prime Minister in 30 years - and only the second ever - when she was selected by French President Emmanuel Macron in May. "I want to dedicate my nomination to all little girls and tell them to go all the way pursuing your dreams," she said in her inauguration speech.

Dina Boluarte became Peru's first female president in December when her predecessor and former boss Pedro Castillo was ousted in an impeachment trial. She faces the unenviable challenge of healing a divided Peru where the presidency has been locked in battle with Congress for more than a year.

Justice Ayesha Malik was appointed Pakistan’s first female Supreme Court judge in January. "An important and defining moment in our country as a brilliant lawyer and decorated judge has become Pakistan's first female SC judge," tweeted Maleeka Bokhari, parliamentary secretary for law and a legislator of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. "To shattering glass ceilings," she added.

Xiomara Castro was sworn in as Honduras' first woman president at the end of January in front of a cheering crowd that included Kamala Harris, US Vice-President. Harris pledged US government support to stem migration and fight corruption in Central America.

Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed on 7 April as the first Black woman to serve on the US Supreme Court. The lifetime appointment passed by 53 votes to 47 in the US Senate, with three Republicans supporting the Democrats. "Judge Jackson's confirmation was a historic moment for our nation," US President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter.

Karen Bass, a Democratic US congresswoman, became the first woman to lead the nation's second-largest city, when she was elected Mayor of Los Angeles in November. "The people of Los Angeles have sent a clear message: It is time for a change and it is time for urgency," Bass said, adding that she would "hit the ground running" on homelessness and crime.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the first woman to head the Treasury and chair the US Federal Reserve and US Treasury Chief Lynn Malerba, the first Native American to serve in that role, became the first women to have their signatures printed on US banknotes in December. Yellen said: "We’ve made progress in providing greater economic opportunity for women at Treasury and in the economics profession. But ... much more needs to be done." Malerba said: "Truly, two women on the currency for the first time is momentous."

Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as Italy's first woman prime minister in October, heading up the country's most right-wing government since World War Two. She took office as Italy's economy was heading into recession and firms were struggling with soaring energy bills.

The 34-year-old Moroccan broke new ground in May, when she became the first woman to referee a football match in the Arab world, at the Moroccan Football Cup final.

The Swedish golfer became the first woman to win an event on the DP World Tour, when she clinched a nine-shot victory at the Scandinavian Mixed event in June.

France's Stephanie Frappart made history in December when she became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup finals game during Costa Rica's Group E match against Germany. She led the first all-female refereeing team in a men's World Cup in the game at the Al Bayt Stadium alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Mexico's Karen Diaz.

At the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, Californian Chloe Kim became the first woman to win consecutive gold medals in the Olympic snowboard halfpipe.

When British army officer Preet Chandi set off on her solo expedition to the South Pole, she did it to inspire her eight-year-old niece. “I want [her] to grow up without boundaries, knowing the possibilities of what you can achieve in life are endless ... By promoting and completing this challenge, it allows me to act as a role model to young people, women and those from ethnic backgrounds.” Chandi is thought to be the first woman of colour to complete the journey unsupported.

In October, Australian Kasey Badger became the first woman to referee in a men's Rugby League World Cup match. She said: "This shows there are genuine opportunities for women to progress to the world stage."

New Zealand film director Jane Campion became the first woman to receive multiple Oscar nominations for best director when she was nominated for The Power of the Dog in February. It comes almost 30 years after she was nominated in 1993 for The Piano. In the history of the Oscars, only seven women have been nominated for best director and only two have won: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker in 2010 and Chloé Zhao for Nomadland in 2021.

The late American author and activist Maya Angelou became the first Black woman to appear on the US quarter, when the US Mint started rolling out the coin on 11 January, 2022. The coin is part of the American Women Quarters Program, which also includes Anna May Wong, the first Chinese-American Hollywood film star, the US Mint told Reuters.

At the 2022 Oscars, Ariana DeBose became the first openly queer woman of colour to win an Oscar for acting. DeBose won best supporting actress for playing Anita in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story. "Even in this weary world that we live in, dreams do come true," she said in her acceptance speech. "To anybody who has ever questioned your identity … I promise you this, there is indeed a place for us."

British newspaper editor Emma Tucker was named the new editor of the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires in December. When she takes over the role in February, she will be the first woman to lead the 133-year-old business publication.