Her Story: The Female Revolution

Picture a CEO. A bishop. An army general. Who do you see? For many people it’s a man – but this is changing thanks to the women who are fearlessly entering male-dominated worlds and being the change they want to see. From actor and activist Geena Davis to head of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, to Kurdish fighters, meet the women who are taking charge in a “man’s world”.

There’s never been a better time to be born a woman thanks to the generations who have fought for equal rights. But there is so much more to be done. While child marriage remains one of the biggest barriers to women’s equality, meet the pioneers – from the deserts of West Africa to bustling Beijing – ensuring that a new generation of women have the opportunity to achieve their potential.

Different faiths, same problem. An ex-communicated Catholic bishop is determined to lead within her church; a Buddhist monk breaks Thai law by her very existence; an Orthodox Jewish lawyer and a Muslim journalist fight for the freedom to pray alongside men. How women can’t depend on prayer alone to achieve their right to worship equally.

For generations, women have been seen as secondary or supplementary earners. Now, women outnumber men graduating from higher education, are taking their place in the global job market and enjoying ever-greater financial independence. In this episode we meet the women challenging professional expectations – from the Amazon to Iran – and transforming society around them in the process.