The 50 Best Moments For Women In 2011

How do you sum up what this year meant for women? It's easy to think only of what needs to change and hasn't, or of the really awful things that are being done to women around the world -- this minute, in fact.

But plenty of things happened for women this year that are worth celebrating, too. Here are the 50 moments in 2011 that struck us as particularly important or astonishing or lovely. They include wins, memes, athletics, an inauguration, a birth, songs, dances, books, movies, speeches, and feats of precociousness. You probably won't agree with all of our choices -- so tell us in comments what we left out.

And whenever you need to be reminded what good company women are in, we hope you'll return to this list. While 2011 wasn't perfect, it certainly had its moments.

PHOTOS/VIDEOS: The 50 Best Moments For Women In 2011

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Comments

[Betweentheblinks]

08:20 PM on 01/21/2012

This list needs a "like" button next to every slide. It would be so satisfying.

[SmBiz Advocate]

03:28 PM on 01/21/2012

While the achievements you have mentioned are all very important. You neglected to mention the work that the United States Women's Chamber of Commerce (USWCC) has done on behalf all working women in any business environment. They are fighting for our futures, striving to establish women as a major financial powerhouse, who are able to educate, financially support, mentor, and lead each other, the women of today and tomorrow.

[BigWillyG]

09:27 PM on 01/09/2012

How to you include a viral video that's only a couple weeks old, commercials or "Bridesmaids" and ignore Bachmann? Regardless of one's views on her politics she was only the second women to run in the primaries for president with a major party. Add that coming right after the 1st women (Hilary) to run in a major party primary they will both likely be seen as the beginners of women running in both parties as a matter of coarse.

[BigWillyG]

09:52 PM on 01/09/2012

do you not to you. We seriously need an edit function.

[Betweentheblinks]

08:18 PM on 01/21/2012

Hillary Clinton wasn't the first. Laura Clay was, back in 1920. Women have been trying to attain Democratic and Republican nominations for president every election since the 60s.

[jacki650]

03:23 PM on 01/09/2012

Very cool round up! Should definitely be added to this Ladies in review 2011 list > http://www.skinnyscoop.com/list/SkinnyScoop_Staff/ladies-only-2011-in-review

[ElleLuv]

09:53 PM on 01/04/2012

I don't have anything really to say except that I couldn't past the third slide without tearing up with pride. These things are happening during my generation and I couldn't be happier. I wish my mom could see all of these states slowly but surely passing gay marriage laws.

[Jennifer Kley]

10:06 AM on 01/04/2012

Uh boy, these women make me feel inadequate, lazy and way behind my goals.
On the other hand, some of them inspire me.
http://thecubiclerebel.wordpress.com/

[Carmen Madonna Campos]

02:53 PM on 01/03/2012

Adele, Tina Fey, those Nobel winning women, the Miss Representation trailer all point to a
WARREN PRESIDENCY 2012!!!

AND, it will be WOMEN who put her in the White House!

[h0tr0d]

09:33 AM on 01/03/2012

Shouldnt this be changed to the top moments for white middle class liberal feminists ? Certainly this is not a list of the top moments for all women, I suggest Huffpo start off the new year by resolving to not use women and feminists interchangeably.

[Grinling Gibbons]

11:50 AM on 01/03/2012

Women and feminists ARE interchangeable. Any woman who believes that a woman has inherent human value that supersedes and transcends her sexual utility to men is a feminist. Find me one woman who doesn't believe that and you'd have a point. Which you don't.

[h0tr0d]

12:55 PM on 01/03/2012

I see you made up yet another new definition.

[Jessica Rose]

02:33 PM on 01/09/2012

I see that you have given in to the flagrant feminist-phobia that runs rampant in our country. Good for you!

[GaryNOVA]

06:13 AM on 01/03/2012

I want a Mens Section of the Huffington Post in 2012!

[livefortruth]

03:15 PM on 01/03/2012

I wholeheartedly agree!

I also promise, right now, that I will not respond to a single article. Ever.

If the womens section is anything to go by, the men NEED women to project their fears, insecurity, and masculinity, to somehow defend themselves.... from heaven knows what?
I certainly don't know, but again, I promise to keep out of it :)

I look forward to hearing the men speak to other men.

I can hardly wait.....I know it's coming.

[booksNOTbombs]

02:58 PM on 01/06/2012

Yep. And it should have the same 2 sub categories: Health and Parents.

[ojomot23]

06:13 PM on 01/02/2012

This list generally struck me as a great list of accomplishments that should have happened way sooner than 2011. I'm all for celebrating advancement, but not while ignoring many other frightening backslides that have happened this year. The massive attack on women's health this year has been a major cause for alarm, and it would have been nice to see all the women who have been fighting back on the streets and in demonstrations around the country on this list. It would have felt empowering to see women not just getting something corrected that shouldn't have existed in the first place (the monarchy change or the rape definition) but to be strong and fighting for more as they are every day. We still have a long way to go and celebrating women's advancements in pop culture I think skewed this list too much for me away from the every day heroes and the need for more attention to be paid to the discrepancies we still face.

[Box500]

03:58 PM on 01/02/2012

Quite a large percentage revolve around pop culture crap, as per usual.

[gilimalili]

03:20 PM on 01/02/2012

What an absolutely incredible list. Each moment So inspiring. I would add this: http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/first-ever-female-idf-major-general-officially-enters-job-1.369247

For the first time in Israel Defense Forces' history, a woman was given the rank of Major General, making her one of only 20 or so people to hold the title in the whole army and making her head of an entire branch of the army. Curious about how many armies in the world have women holding the second-to-highest rank in the whole establishment...

[StrawHat]

04:45 AM on 01/02/2012

If "Bridesmaids" was one of the "best moments" for womankind this year...yikes...we're in a heck of a lot of trouble, women.

Time to get busy.

[Dede Eagleburger]

12:50 PM on 01/02/2012

Umm, wow, it was one of 50...there's something on this list for all of us I think??

[StrawHat]

03:57 PM on 01/02/2012

It belongs on a list of "The 50 Most Insulting Things That Were Done to Women in 2011".

[renglish222]

02:33 AM on 01/02/2012

Another great thing is that midwife Robin Lim won the CNN Hero of the Year Award, for the work she does providing free maternity care for mothers in Indonesia. Making sure women have access to quality maternity care, whether they are rich or poor, is an important human rights issue, and having Robin win helps to bring more attention to that!

[booksNOTbombs]

12:47 AM on 01/02/2012

wonderful collection!

[Dede Eagleburger]

12:54 PM on 01/02/2012

wonderful comment!