Hey everyone, it’s International Women’s Day! In light of the holiday, I’ll share with you some women that I personally look up to and find inspiring. Remember though, we should celebrate women every day!

Anita Sarkeesian

The woman behind Feminist Frequency, a critical vlog about women’s representation in media, is Anita Sarkeesian. For years, she has been fighting for equal representation of women in media, most currently video games, where she wishes female characters weren’t simply damsels in distress or there to be a “Smurfette”. In videos not related to her “Tropes vs. Women in Video Games” series, she analyses films and marketing, uncovering how companies reinforce the idea of bogus gender roles. Her work has garnered an unprecedented amount of ludicrous sexual harassment, but she is brave enough to keep on going. Check out her video about LEGO and marketing, and then watch all of her other videos! Seriously, you need to watch all of them!

Caprice Crane

I first encountered Caprice Crane through a friend who recommended I read her debut novel Stupid and Contagious. I immediately loved her book, and have since read everything she’s done, even attending book signings for the last two. Ms. Crane’s comedic voice doesn’t only appear in books, for she has also written for television and movies. If you haven’t read Stupid and Contagious, what are you doing?! Get it from your local independent bookstore and read it now!

Alyssa White-Gluz

Metal is a place you don’t often find women. And even when you do, they might just be used in sexualizing promotional materials (which is dumb). But Alyssa White-Gluz, lead singer of The Agonist, refuses to be one of those women. With her amazing blend of clean and growling vocals, Alyssa has astonished everyone I’ve shown her to. People are often skeptical that it is her doing both types of vocals, but I’ve seen her live and she is indeed doing both, and excellently so. You’d think that after all that growling, her voice would be shot, but after listening to her a capella version of Swan Lake, you can see just how talented she is. Amazing! Keep up the good work, Alyssa!

Sandra van Eldik (Née Völkl)

As stated before, there sadly aren’t too many women in metal. While Alyssa White-Gluz and other females front bands (like Simone Simons of Epica and Floor Jansen of Nightwish), Sandra van Eldik absolutely rocks it as the bassist for German folk-metal band Eqililbrium. See her in this video for “Der Ewige Sieg” (English: “The eternal victory”) and then get excited about the upcoming album!

Netta Skog

I cannot even tell you how sad I was the day I that Netta Skog, the accordionist of Finnish Viking metal band Turisas, was leaving. Only 16 when she jumped in to do some summer gigs (the other accordionist, like, totally disappeared), Netta officially joined the band soon after. In the four times I saw them with Netta, she was always smiling and rocking out harder than anyone, bringing a level of fun that has not since returned. Check out her accordion playing below during a song called “Sahti-Waari”. So great! We miss you, Netta!

Emmi Silvonoinen

Wow, I must really like metal! Emmi Silvenoinen, who joined the folk/viking metal band Ensiferum in 2007 after the departure of Meiju Enho (honourable mention, Meiju!), continues to rock as Ensiferum’s keyboardist. Unfortunately during live shows, her keyboard is stuffed in back with the drummer, but she is often elevated so that all can see her spinning hair. I don’t know how she does it! See her fast-moving fingers in this video for their amazing song “Twilight Tavern”!

Joan of Arc

After a while of someone knowing me, I’ll eventually tell them I am huge “Joan of Arc fan”. I’m often greeted with curious looks, because, well, who is really a “fan” of historical figures? Jehanne d’Arc has always been an influence on me and her story never ceases to interest, amaze, and inspire me (a picture of her is even currently my cell phone background!).

I wish there was a perfect Joan of Arc movie to recommend to you, but I honestly don’t think it’s been made yet. So I’m going to suggest you just simply watch as many as you can. If you don’t have time to watch a bunch of Joan of Arc movies (which you should make the time to do!), might I recommend one of my all-time favorite books, Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. When you’re done with that, read The Maid by Kimberly Cutter and An Army of Angels by Pamela Marcantel. Just saying, we should all know Joan of Arc’s amazing story of adversity and devotion. So get on it!

Of course, there are many more women who are inspiring and awesome. If you have a woman who inspires you, comment below, and if you are an amazing woman, don’t keep it to yourself!

-Casey