As Women's History Month comes to an end, we'd like to introduce you to a remarkable woman whose name you may not know – Betty Dukes. Dukes' story shows that we all have the power to change the world, even if it's one corner at a time.
In 2001, Betty Dukes was a 51-year-old cashier at Walmart. After years of watching her male co-workers getting higher pay and faster promotions, she decided to act. She became the lead plaintiff in one of U.S. history's most significant class-action discrimination lawsuits. After an 11-year fight through the lower courts, her case went all the way to the Supreme Court. Although the Court ultimately ruled that the suit didn't meet the requirements for class-action status, Dukes' efforts to level the playing field for women were not in vain. Conditions at Walmart have improved significantly, and women are more valued than ever before. Dukes' tenacity and sense of fairness helped change the culture of one of the largest companies in the nation.
For all she has done to improve the working conditions for women at Walmart, and across corporate America, we're proud to honor her.
Women like Katherine Graham, Sara Blakely, Billie Jean King, and Betty Dukes are all around us, willing to take a stand and speak out for what's right. We hope you've enjoyed this series and as this month comes to a close, let's celebrate the brave women in our lives and around this world.