Every day, women are breaking down workplace barriers and opening doors of opportunity.

This struggle against a persistent gender gap in the labor market, especially in male-dominated fields, has been ongoing for decades. It is narrowing, however, thanks in part to extraordinary women who dared to change the way. 

This month, we celebrate the many women who courageously defy stereotypes to break the proverbial glass ceiling and empower others who follow them. Women such as:

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Sworn in as the second-ever female Supreme Court Justice in 1993, Ginsburg has tirelessly fought for equal rights for women. One of just nine women in her class at Harvard Law school in the mid-1950s, she pioneered a successful law career to the nation’s highest court.

Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. A leader in the women’s movement, Sandberg gained attention for her TED talk and 2013 book Lean In, which ignited a national dialogue about women in the workplace. One of the most powerful women in Silicon Valley, Sandberg earned a place at the top of tech companies Google and now Facebook.

Astronaut Sally Ride. Beating out 1,000 applicants for a spot in NASA's astronaut program, Ride was the first American woman to fly in space in 1983. Earning a double major at Stanford in physics and English and later a master’s degree and Ph.D., Ride was outspoken about making science accessible to young women.

Women continue to make great strides, yet advances in gender equality has not kept pace. Women make up 47 percent of the workforce with an annual pay that only now equals the amount men were earning 10 years ago.

We must continue to push for progress. Don't be afraid to blaze your own trail toward equality.