On the downside, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman on her school bus-but more positively, she became the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her continued campaigning for better education for women and girls across the world. Since then, she's experienced highs and lows. It's only been five years since the Pakistani schoolgirl's anonymous diary about life under the Taliban ruling in northwest Pakistan first captured the public's imagination. Here are some of last year's standout moments.ġ7-year-old Malala Yousafzai has shown the world the violence that women can face if they assert their human right to be educated, but also the power of dedicated, defiant activism. There are 22 female world leaders currently in power.

There have been some great moments for women in 2014 and it's important that we remember them, even when-especially when-it feels like we're constantly skidding along a dog shit–covered pavement.