Because today is the tenth anniversary of V-Day in the U.S, I decided to list a few woman who were victims of the violence that V-day tries to bring awareness to. V-day was born to stop violence against women and girls whether it be for religious, social or political reasons. The women below decided NOT to submit to the violence, but instead chose to fight one more round and came out on top.  Their strength and bravery is phenomenal, and a perfect example to all.

Mukhtar Mai was a victim of gang rape in Pakistan. She took this tragic and horrible situation, gathered her strength and went to authorities putting her rapists in jail. She received compensation money from the government, which she did not use for herself, but instead opened a rape crisis hotline, and opened up a girls school. Mai has received countless death threats, attacks on her school, her local village, and against her family. She remains vocal, stands strong by her school, and refuses to close it down along with the hotline she opened. Mai was awarded Bravest Woman of the Year in 2005, and praised by the UN, having been honored her for her incredible activism, heroism, and bravery.

Ayyan Hirsi Ali is best known for publicly denouncing violence against women in Islam. Fleeing an arranged marriage in Somalia in the ninenties, she sought amnesty in the Netherlands. There she learned Dutch, English, received her BA degree in Political Science, and became a member of Dutch Parliament. She left the Netherlands when Theo Van Gogh, her co producer for the documentary “Submission”, was killed by an extremist for helping her make the movie.  She speaks out today all over the world, and refuses to “submit” to the death threats and multiple attempts on her life by extremists and terrorists that try to silence her.

This American woman, Aurea McGarry, has almost survived it all. Aurea has risen above her father’s murder, a physically abusive marriage, her mother’s death of cancer, her brothers treatment of cancer and then finally her OWN battle with cancer.  Despite all of this she has evolved into a successful entrepreneur in direct sales, an ambassador in her local chamber, a sought after motivational speaker, and a director for a childrens’ church for more than thirteen years.

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most beautiful and rare of all.  Author Unknown.