International Womenโs Day is here. Raise a glass (or a coffee) to the incredible women who serve, protect, support and build. From the battlefields to the boardrooms, from fire stations to family homes, these women are out there making waves every single day. And weโre always ready to celebrate them.
Women in the Military: Breaking Barriers & Leading the Way
Women have been stepping up and breaking barriers in the military for decades. Today, they make up about 17.5% of active-duty service members, proving that courage knows no gender.
- Admiral Lisa Franchetti became the first woman to serve as Chief of Naval Operations and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester shattered expectations in 2005 when she became the first woman since WWII to receive the Silver Star for bravery in combat.
And letโs not forget the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalionโan all-Black, all-female unit that kept morale high in WWII by clearing a massive backlog of mail for deployed troops. Their story is so inspiring that itโs now a Netflix film, “The Six Triple Eight.”
Find military gift ideas here!
Women First Responders: Everyday Heroes
Whether theyโre fighting fires, saving lives in ambulances, or keeping our communities safe as law enforcement officers, female first responders show up every day ready to protect and serve.
- Judith Livers Brewer became the first career female firefighter in the U.S. in 1974 and later the first female battalion chief.
- Brenda Cowan was Lexington, Kentuckyโs first Black female firefighter in 1992, remembered for her bravery and dedication.
- Cristina Schoeck just made history as Meriden, Connecticutโs first female fire chief in 2025.
- Ezras Nashim is the first all-female volunteer EMT ambulance service.
These women, and so many others, keep our communities safe while breaking down barriers along the way.
Military Spouses: The Backbone of Military Life
Life as a military spouse isnโt for the faint of heart. Itโs filled with moves, deployments, and constant adaptationโbut these women donโt just roll with the punches; they create opportunities.
- Bonnie Carroll turned personal loss into purpose by founding TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), which provides support to families grieving a military loss. Her work earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
- Karen Guenther started Semper Fi & America’s Fund in 2004 to provide financial assistance and support to wounded service members and their families. Since then, the fund has provided over $200 million in aid to those who have sacrificed so much.
- Jen Satterlyย isย co-founder ofย All Secure Foundation andย founder of Virago: A platform that empowers military spouses facing the challenges of secondary PTS, providing them the resources and support needed to thrive.
- Monica Fullerton, an Air Force spouse and twin mom, founded Spouse-ly. She saw a need for a central hub to support military spouse and veteran-owned businesses and turned that vision into reality. Today, Spouse-ly helps countless entrepreneurs build careers that move with them, including first responder families!
Shop Erin Hutton Art and Love & Lettering by Katie on Spouse-ly!
Military spouses arenโt just supporters; theyโre leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who turn challenges into stepping stones.
Women Entrepreneurs: Game Changers & Go-Getters
Women-owned businesses are thriving, with 40% of U.S. businesses being run by women. But thereโs still work to do. Women-led startups receive only 2.8% of venture capital funding.
- Madam C.J. Walker became the first self-made female millionaire in the U.S. by creating a beauty empire for Black women.
- Rebecca Lukens took over her family’s iron business in the 1800s and became Americaโs first female industrialist in a male-dominated industry.
- Yoshiko Shinohara broke barriers in Japan by founding one of the countryโs biggest staffing agencies, becoming its first self-made female billionaire.
These women paved the way for todayโs female entrepreneurs, proving that with vision and determination, anything is possible.
Learn more about Spouse-ly’s story!
Support Women-Owned Businesses on Spouse-ly
At Spouse-ly, weโre all about uplifting and celebrating women who hustle. Our marketplace is packed with military spouse-owned, veteran-owned, and first responder-owned businesses that deserve the spotlight. This International Womenโs Day, letโs put our money where our values are. Shop small, support big dreams, and celebrate the incredible women making it all happen.
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