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Best Tips for Maid Of Honor Speech 2024: Samples & Ideas

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Crafting a memorable maid of honor speech can be both an honor and a daunting task. It’s a chance to celebrate the bride in a heartfelt way while engaging the audience. Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or feeling the nerves, this guide will walk you through simple and effective steps to create a speech that will leave everyone touched and smiling. Remember, the key to a great speech lies in authenticity and personal anecdotes – sharing genuine stories and emotions will make your words resonate with everyone present.

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Maid Of Honor Speech Examples

Matron of honor speech.

In the realm of weddings, the roles of Maid of Honor and Matron of Honor are distinct yet equally significant. While the Maid of Honor is typically an unmarried woman, the Matron of Honor is a married woman, often a close friend or relative of the bride. The Matron of Honor’s speech is a cherished moment during the wedding reception, filled with heartfelt memories and well-wishes.

Difference between Maid of Honor and Matron of Honor:

• Maid of Honor: Unmarried woman chosen for her close relationship with the bride.
• Matron of Honor: Married woman, offering a unique perspective on married life and advice for the couple.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Good evening! For those of you who don’t know me, I’m [Your Name], the Matron of Honor and [Bride’s Name]’s older sister/best friend. It’s an incredible honor to stand here today beside my beautiful sister/best friend on this special day. Growing up, [Bride’s Name] and I shared countless memories—sleepovers filled with secrets, endless laughter, and a bond that only sisters/best friends can understand. From the moment she met [Groom’s Name], I saw a light in her eyes that was new and wonderful. Seeing her so happy and in love filled my heart with joy. As someone who has been married for a few years, I’ve learned that marriage is a journey filled with beautiful highs and challenging lows. [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], you two have a love that is strong and resilient. Cherish each other, communicate openly, and never stop laughing together. [Bride’s Name], you are my confidante, my rock, and my inspiration. [Groom’s Name], thank you for loving her the way she deserves. I’m excited to watch you two build a life filled with love and happiness. Here’s to a lifetime of love, laughter, and endless joy. Congratulations, [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]!

Hello everyone! For those who might not know me, I’m [Your Name], the Matron of Honor and [Bride’s Name]’s college roommate/best friend. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing [Bride’s Name] for [number] years, and I must say, standing here today is an absolute joy. When [Bride’s Name] told me about [Groom’s Name], she couldn’t stop smiling. In fact, she smiled so much that I thought she had taken up a new hobby—face exercises! But in all seriousness, from the first time I met [Groom’s Name], I knew he was the one. The way they look at each other, with so much love and understanding, is something truly special. Now, as someone who has been through the ups and downs of marriage, I want to offer a bit of advice: always remember to keep the humor alive. Laugh together, especially during the tough times. It’s amazing how a little laughter can ease even the most stressful moments. [Bride’s Name], you’ve been my partner in crime, my cheerleader, and my voice of reason. [Groom’s Name], you’re incredibly lucky to have her, and I know she’s just as lucky to have you. So, here’s to [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]—may your life together be filled with love, laughter, and lots of happy memories. Cheers!

Tips for Writing a Matron of Honor Speech:

• Start with a Personal Anecdote: Share a meaningful memory or story that highlights your relationship with the bride.
• Express Genuine Emotions: Speak from the heart, expressing your happiness and love for the couple.
• Offer Words of Wisdom: As a married woman, provide thoughtful advice and encouragement for their journey ahead.
• Keep it Concise: Aim for a speech that is heartfelt but brief, typically around 3-5 minutes.
• Practice: Rehearse your speech to ensure a smooth delivery and to manage any nerves.

Best Friend Maid Of Honor Speech

After years of helping Maids of Honor deliver awesome speeches, founder of Speechy and author of ‘The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches’, Heidi Ellert-McDermott, shares her tips. The first three-fifths of the speech should include revealing, entertaining stories that give an insight into the bride and your relationship with her. Don’t be shy of some affectionate teasing.

We’ve made a research and after surveying over 50,000 brides, the maid of honor choice was crystal clear: more than 51% of them chose their best friend as their maid of honor. This role isn’t just about tradition—it’s about an unbreakable bond. A best friend’s speech resonates deeply, filled with shared memories and heartfelt wishes.

“If you haven’t had the chance to meet me yet, my name is X. (Bride) and I have been best friends for about 10 years. We met in high school gym class, and we couldn’t stand each other at first. As you can see, things eventually changed for the better. When (Bride) first asked me to be her Maid of Honor I felt flattered. But as the big day approached, she also told me to give a speech and a toast. I’m kind of the shy type and tried my best to get out of it. But, as (Groom) can tell you, it’s almost impossible to tell (Bride) No and get away with it. I wanted to tell you both how absolutely spectacular you look today. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better-looking couple (except for maybe my boyfriend and I). And I hope you’re all having a lovely evening and I’d like to I wish you two all the love and happiness in the world. How blessed you are to celebrate your love on this beautiful day. I know there are many happy years ahead for you. Let’s all raise our glasses to the bride and groom, and wish them a lifetime of love and happiness!”

“I never had a sister, but (Bride) has been like a sister to me for all these years. We have similar tastes, we like similar clothes… I knew (Bride) had found the one when (Groom) walked into her life. Well, I’m fine with that – she saw him first! Actually, you could see that it was love at first, second, and third sight. He is her Prince Charming and it seems to me he gives her all she needs – a strong arm, a sympathetic ear, and his credit card.”

“I met (Bride) 6 years ago, as we tried to survive in the concrete jungle of NY. To thrive there, your tribe is essential. We are quite protective of each other, so I was a bit skeptical of (Groom) when he first came into the picture. But as time goes by, I can’t imagine anyone else but him to be her one and only. They say that anyone can be passionate, but it takes a real pair of lovers to be silly. Well, together, (Bride) and (Groom) are two of the goofiest people I know.”

“Hello everyone, my name is X, and by my dress, you can tell that I am the Maid of Honor today. For many years, we have been through thick and thin, and we have shared many memories. Today is another great day to add to our collection of sweet memories, so I’m really looking forward to the cake! I know you will have challenges as all relationships do. But you know what’s great about love and relationships and marriages? It is learning to grow together. Caring and sharing, and lots of tenderness. And maybe a bit of patience, or maybe even a lot. So let’s raise our glasses to the power of love, that makes all these wonderful things happen! Today you start a completely new chapter of your lives. What can I say? Never forget the two most important replies: ‘you’re right, dear’ and ‘okay, buy it’. Love and cherish each other! These two are a rare find in today’s world. Here’s to the groom who has a bride so fair, and here’s to the bride with a groom who is so rare.”

Check out this touching maid of honor speech to get inspired!

How to write a maid of honor speech for best friend?

• Introduction: Begin by introducing yourself and expressing how honored you are to be the maid of honor for your best friend.
• Fond Memories: Share special and cherished memories you’ve shared together, highlighting the bond you both share.
• Praise and Qualities: Speak about your best friend’s wonderful qualities, accomplishments, and the ways they have positively impacted your life and the lives of others.
• The Friendship: Emphasize the strength and significance of your friendship, and how it has grown over the years.
• Love and Support: Show appreciation for the bride’s partner and express your excitement about their journey together.
• Gratitude: Thank the guests for being a part of this special day and acknowledge the couple’s families.
• Toast: Raise a toast to your best friend and their partner, wishing them a lifetime of love, joy, and happiness together.

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Sister maid of honor speech.

According to our research, the second most popular choice for the maid of honor role is the bride’s sister. While tradition often places the best friend in the spotlight, a sister brings a unique depth to the role. Their shared history, growing up together, and the intrinsic bond make a sister’s speech incredibly touching. With a wealth of childhood memories and a deep understanding of the bride, a sister’s words carry immense emotional weight. When delivering the speech, draw upon this shared journey, express genuine emotions, and celebrate the love that binds not only siblings but also the newlyweds.

“As you may know, I am the bride’s younger sister. As we were growing up, I always wanted to be like her. Do the things she did, have the things she had –  I was probably a bit annoying, I always wanted to tag along. She taught me how to care, how to share, and how to try to reach for the stars. And as I grew up I wanted to be just as beautiful, caring, smart, and successful as her. (Bride) has always set an example for me to follow. Over the years she has shown me how to love and care. Today she shows me how to find a best friend, a partner, and a true lover, all in one person. I hope that I am just as lucky someday. It’s a great happiness to find someone who loves you as much as (Groom) loves my sister. Today, I want to thank both of you for being a part of my life, and to celebrate the love you both share. Like many sisters, we weren’t always best friends. I remember fights, screaming, and door-slamming, but I couldn’t have picked a better sister and a friend. Now that we are older, I can finally admit how happy I am to have grown up with such a great sister. Having a sister is one of the greatest things in life. Having a little sister is even better because I liked to be bossy. (Bride) always wanted to be a bit more like me… But actually, there is so much that I admire about her! I have watched her grow into the gorgeous woman that she is. It is a great honor for me to be her big sister!”

“First of all, I want to thank you all for being here with us today. As most of you know I am (Bride’s) sister. As we grew, we were as close as can be. We were always in trouble and I remember wondering if there will be a guy brave enough for someone as wild as my sister is. Well, here he is!My sis has just tied the knot. And I do believe that (Groom) is her perfect match. And today I realize that all she needs is a guy who will love her just the way she is, with all her craziness. Their commitment to each other inspires all of us because that’s what we call true love. So let’s raise our glasses to this amazing couple!”

“I want you to know that it took me 3 weeks to write this speech over and over again. And I couldn’t think of anything perfect enough to describe just how much I love you. I couldn’t find words to define the kind of sister you are to me. This is your big day and there is so much I want to say… I Googled a lot of maid of honor speech examples. The one piece of advice I kept finding over and over again was to start off with a quote. I did some research and I think their love is best described by Dr. Seuss: “You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because the reality is finally better than your dreams.”

“Love, be true to her; Life, be dear to her; Health, stay close to her; Joy, draw near to her; Fortune, find what you can do for her, Search your treasure house through and through for her, Follow her footsteps the wide world over – And keep her husband always her lover. – By Anna Lewis, from “To the Bride”

How to write a maid of honor speech for sister?

• Introduction: Start by introducing yourself and your relationship with the bride, emphasizing your sisterly bond.
• Anecdotes: Share heartfelt and funny stories that highlight your sister’s qualities, achievements, or memorable moments you’ve shared together.
• Praise the bride: Compliment her personality, kindness, and the positive impact she has on others.
• Address the groom: Welcome him into the family and share a warm message about their relationship.
• Express gratitude: Thank the guests for attending and acknowledge your parents and other family members.
• Toast: Raise a glass and propose a heartfelt toast to the newlyweds and their future happiness together.

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Pick a Maid of Honor?

Funny Maid Of Honor Speech

As a close friend of the bride, you would have a lot of material for wedding speeches bridesmaids, you just need to know how to put them all together. A few sample wedding speeches would give you the right kind of inspiration to get you on your way.

“Well, for those of you who I haven’t had the chance to meet yet, my name is [NAME]. [BRIDE] and I have been best friends for around the last 10 years. We first met at work one day, when she stole my carrot cake out of the fridge in the lunchroom and I threw away her pineapple yogurt cartons in revenge. I never had a sister, but [BRIDE] has been my stand-in sister for all these years. You could say we are even closer than sisters. We don’t fight like sisters, but we do wear each other’s clothes. Somehow she can still fit into my clothes but I can’t fit into hers anymore. I’m sure that is just because her dryer must be shrinking them. I knew [BRIDE] had found the one when [GROOM] walked into her life. Sure, she dated a few guys…after I was done torturing them. But [GROOM] was different. Unlike those jerks, he was kind and thoughtful. And he had a job. You could see that it was love at first, second, and third sight. Clearly [GROOM] is charming and it seems to me he offers her what she needs – a strong arm, a kind ear, and an American Express Black Card. I trust [BRIDE] and [GROOM] completely. I remember the time I asked them to watch my dog Benji when I went skiing in Europe. They were so nice to help out. I got back and Benji was so happy to see me. He was 40 pounds lighter and now he sees a therapist twice a week. Of course, we are having fun today. The test of this relationship will be over the long term. Will she still love [GROOM] when he leaves his underwear on the floor and cuts his toenails at the dinner table? The answer is no. God, please, disgusting. No, seriously, I know they will have challenges as all relationships do. And [GROOM] will learn what all men learn eventually. Keep your wife happy! Happy wife, happy life. No, really, what’s great about love and relationships and marriage is learning to grow together. The communication it takes to keep a marriage going is massive. But half the fun is working things out, talking, communicating, and launching kitchen appliances at each other – real love. Today has been a great day. Family and friends are here, the sun is shining and the champagne is flowing. And we’ll need it to get through this chicken dinner.”

Sometimes the hardest part of being a maid of honor to your bestie might be writing the wedding speech. Speaking with your friend face to face is always easy, however, making toasts or speeches in front of a group of people would be totally different and not as easy. This is why anecdotes and funny wedding speeches maid of honor could help you cruise through your speech while giving the wedding guests a laugh at the same time.

Funny Lines For Maid Of Honor Speech

• “I did some research on how to give the perfect maid of honor speech, and the first tip I found was to imagine everyone in their underwear. So, here we are, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my nightmare!”
• “Being the maid of honor is like being a ninja. You have to be quick on your feet, prepared for anything, and ready to attack at a moment’s notice. But instead of throwing shurikens, I’m armed with embarrassing stories about the bride.”
• “As the maid of honor, I’ve been given the responsibility of keeping the bride calm and relaxed throughout the wedding planning process. Which is why I’ve been slipping her Xanax in her coffee every morning.”
• “When the bride asked me to be her maid of honor, I was thrilled. But then I realized it meant I had to give a speech in front of all these people. So if I faint halfway through, just drag me off stage and make it look like part of the act.”

Bridesmaid Wedding Speech

A list of example wedding speeches maid of honor could act as a template of sorts, helping you figure out just how to structure your bridesmaid speech.

Some of the best wedding speeches maid of honor, shine a light on the friendship between the bride and her maid of honor, as well as the beautiful personality of the bride. Most introductions begin with the story of meeting the groom for the first time. The intro is usually a good time to inject a funny quote, poem, or actual occurrence.

“Hi everyone, I am one of the bridesmaids at this wedding and I just wanted to say how happy and lucky I am to be here to celebrate [bride] and [groom’s] wedding with everyone. Today, everything looks effortless. From the beautiful wedding ceremony to the food, music, and decorations at this venue, every little detail was planned by [bride] and [groom.] And lots of time was spent shopping for dresses and doing fittings. When you get to peek behind the scenes, you see how much work really gets put into planning a wedding. There were a lot of late nights and hours spent working on this wedding and I have to say that it all turned out quite beautifully. Let’s all give a round of applause for [bride] and [groom.] [Bride] and [groom,] thank you for such a wonderful day. I raise my glass to the two of you and wish you nothing but the best in your life together. May each day be full of love and laughter between the two of you.”

Speeches are generally not as difficult as we imagine. So, you can relax, go through these samples, and create one of the best wedding toast speeches made of honor.

Short Maid Of Honor Speech Examples

“Greetings to all of you. I’m [Name], the maid of honor. I would like to express a few words about the lovely bride and groom. [Bride] has always been a wonderful friend to me, and it’s an honor to be her maid of honor today. And [Groom], I am delighted that you are joining our family. You two are a perfect match, and I wish you all the happiness and love in the world. Let’s raise a glass to the happy couple!”

“Hello, everyone. I’m [Name], the maid of honor. [Bride], you look breathtakingly beautiful today, and I feel grateful to be a part of your extraordinary day. [Groom], you’re a fortunate man! [Bride] is intelligent, gorgeous, and has a heart of gold. I am confident that you both will have a lifetime of love and happiness together. Congratulations on your special day!”

“Good evening, all. I’m [Name], the maid of honor, and for those who don’t know me, it’s lovely to meet you. I have known [Bride] for several years, and I have never seen her as happy as she is with [Groom]. You two bring out the best in each other, and it’s evident that you are destined to be together. It’s an honor to stand here today as a witness to your love and commitment. Congratulations to the joyful couple!”

“Hello everyone, I’m [Name], the maid of honor. [Bride], you’re my best friend and I couldn’t be happier to see you marry [Groom]. You two are perfect for each other and I wish you a lifetime of love and happiness. Congratulations!”

“Good evening, all. I’m [Name], the maid of honor, and I’m honored to celebrate [Bride] and [Groom]’s special day. [Bride], you’re my best friend and I’m so happy to see you with someone as wonderful as [Groom]. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness. Congratulations!”

“Hi everyone, I’m [Name], the maid of honor, and I’m thrilled to celebrate my best friend [Bride] and her groom [Groom]. [Bride], I’m so proud of you and I know that [Groom] is the perfect partner for you. Here’s to a lifetime of happiness and love. Congratulations!”

“Good evening, everyone! For those who don’t know me, I’m [Your Name], and I have the incredible honor of standing by [Bride’s Name]’s side today as her maid of honor. First and foremost, I want to say how breathtakingly beautiful she looks tonight. As I stand here, I can’t help but reflect on the journey that led us to this moment. [Bride’s Name] and I have been inseparable since childhood, and I am beyond grateful for the memories we’ve created together. We’ve laughed together, cried together, and supported each other through life’s ups and downs. And now, as I watch her embark on this new chapter with [Groom’s Name], my heart overflows with joy. I’ve witnessed the love between them grow and flourish, and it’s truly something special. [Groom’s Name], thank you for making my best friend the happiest she’s ever been. To [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name], may your love continue to blossom and may your journey together be filled with laughter, love, and adventure. Here’s to a lifetime of happiness. Cheers!”

“Hello, everyone! I’m [Your Name], and I have the honor of being [Bride’s Name]’s slightly crazy, but totally awesome, maid of honor! When [Bride’s Name] asked me to take on this role, I knew it would be an adventure. From choosing the perfect dress to planning wild bachelorette parties, we’ve had our fair share of laughs and tears. And let’s not forget about all the emergency wedding dress fittings! But in all seriousness, I couldn’t have asked for a better friend. [Bride’s Name] is compassionate, hilarious, and always there to lend a helping hand. She lights up every room she enters, and I know that [Groom’s Name] feels incredibly lucky to have her as his partner in crime. [Groom’s Name], welcome to the family! We’ve all been waiting for someone to take on the challenge of dealing with [Bride’s Name]’s terrible dance moves, and it looks like you’re up for it. To the happy couple, may your love be as endless as the dance floor at the reception. Here’s to a lifetime of happiness, laughter, and love. Cheers!”

“Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and most importantly, the beautiful couple of the day, [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name]. I’m [Your Name], and I have the privilege of being [Bride’s Name]’s maid of honor. Today, I stand here with a heart full of emotions, for I’ve had the honor of witnessing the love between [Bride’s Name] and [Groom’s Name] blossom into something truly extraordinary. Their love is like a gentle breeze, calming our souls and reminding us of the beauty in life. [Bride’s Name], you’ve always been the ray of sunshine in my life. Your kindness, grace, and unwavering love inspire all who know you. And now, as you embark on this new journey with [Groom’s Name], I know that you’ll be a guiding light in his life as well. [Groom’s Name], thank you for cherishing and loving [Bride’s Name] with all your heart. Your dedication to making her happy is evident in every glance you share. Let us all raise our glasses to the newlyweds. May your love continue to grow, like the mighty oak standing tall through the changing seasons. May your days be filled with laughter, and your hearts forever intertwined. Congratulations, and here’s to a lifetime of happiness and love!”

When delivering a speech, remember to speak from the heart, keep it concise, and maintain a positive tone. Make sure to customize the speech to fit your relationship with the couple and the overall vibe of the wedding.

How to write a short wedding speech?

• Start by introducing yourself and briefly mentioning your relationship with the bride. This will help the audience understand your perspective and why you were chosen to be the maid of honor.
• Take a moment to express your gratitude for being a part of the special day and your well wishes for the newlyweds.
• Say a few words about the bride and groom, highlighting their qualities and how they complement each other. You can talk about their journey as a couple and your hopes for their future together.
• End your speech by raising a toast to the newlyweds.

Maid Of Honor Toasts

One of the tips for giving good wedding speeches – to use a good toast. A toast is basically well wished to the newlyweds and their family, followed by a signal for guests to raise their glasses.

If you are unsure what exactly to say, here are some beautiful maid of honor toast examples to inspire you.

• “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. – Philippians 1:9”
• “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. – Ephesians 4:32”
• “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Here’s to love, laughter and happily ever after. – Romans 12:10″
• “As (Groom) and (Bride) start their new life together, Let’s toast to the new husband and wife!”
• “Here’s to the husband And here’s to the wife; May they remain Lovers for life.”
• “Here’s to the health of the happy pair; may good luck follow them everywhere; And may each day of wedded bliss be always as sweet and joyous as this.”
• “May you grow old on one pillow. May their joy be as bright as the morning, and their sorrows be shadows that fade in the sunlight of love.”
• “Let’s drink to love, which is nothing—unless it’s divided into two with someone you love. May your joys be as sweet as spring flowers that grow.”
• “As bright as a fire when winter winds blow; As countless as leaves that float down in the fall; And as serene as the love that keeps watching over us all.”

As the maid of honor, you need to find the one speech, that is short and sweet, and resonates with you! Great Maid of Honor wedding speeches often includes great quotes . Famous quotes have a way of painting a picture that our own words can’t seem to do on their own.

The Maid Of Honor Speech Template

Infographic.

The biggest worry that most maids of honor have is freezing and forgetting the speech. A great solution is breaking your speech into sections and writing them down on cards that you carry with you. As you practice your speech it will be easier to memorize, and having all the words with you will keep you from panicking.

To get you started, stick to our basic Maid Of Honor Speech Outline:

• Introduce yourself (your name, your relationship to the bride, and how long you’ve known each other)
• Thank everyone involved in the wedding planning for their hard work
• Talk about the bride (why she’s a good person and friend, share a story to illustrate it)
• Tell the love story (The most romantic version of how the bride and groom met)
• Talk about the groom (Compliment him, why he’s great for your friend, what he does for her etc)
• Celebrate the couple (Why they’re so good together)
• Wish the newlyweds wonderful things for the future You could also insert a quote or a poem.
• Toast to the bride and groom – Raise your glass, say: “Here’s to the happy couple”, take and sip and voila! You’ve nailed it!

How To Write The Best Maid Of Honor Speech Ever

We’ve all seen when speeches go wrong, so how you do you get it right? After years of helping Maids of Honor deliver awesome speeches, founder of Speechy , Heidi Ellert-McDermott, shares her tips.

• Introduce yourself & explain how you know the bride.
• Include humor throughout. Yes, your speech should be a loving tribute to a true friend, but it’s also meant to entertain a crowd.
• Once you’ve written your speech, try to edit it in half. Promise, your speech will be better the punchier it is. No one ever wished a speech was longer!
• Pay tribute to the bride’s partner with than a cursory platitude. Prove you genuinely know and like them!
• Rehearse as often as you can but use notes on the day. Delivering the speech shouldn’t be a memory test.
• Remember to smile throughout your delivery. It’s a powerful (and infectious) communication tool.

Don’t

• Resort to cheesy cliches about love and friendship.
• Google gags.
• Thank anyone. It’s not your job.
• Take up more than 10 mins mic time.
• Pretend the bride is perfect. Instead cherish the crazy character she truly is, with all her quirks and eccentricities.
• Talk over laughter when you deliver your speech. If you’ve written a funny line, leave a pause after you’ve said it to allow your audience to get the joke and respond. Don’t start talking till the last giggle has died down.
• Drink more than a glass of bubbles prior to your speech. Alcohol actually increases the stress hormone.

How to Get Started Maid of Honor Wedding Speech

• Know Your Audience: Consider the bride and groom’s personalities, the formality of the event, and the sensibilities of the guests. Tailor your speech to the audience.
• Start Early: Begin writing your speech well in advance. This allows time for revisions and practice. Don’t wait until the last minute.
• Personalize It: Share anecdotes and stories that reflect your relationship with the bride. Highlight special moments and inside jokes.

Examples of How to Get Started:

• Opening with a Quote: Start with an inspiring or humorous quote related to love or marriage. For instance,

“Maya Angelou once said, ‘Love recognizes no barriers.’ Today, we’re here to celebrate a love that knows no bounds.”

• Anecdotal Introduction: Begin with a personal story about your friendship with the bride.

“As I stand here today, I can’t help but think back to the time we met in kindergarten. Who would’ve thought that our friendship would lead us to this beautiful wedding?”

• Express Your Gratitude: Begin by expressing your gratitude for being chosen as the maid of honor.

“First and foremost, I want to thank [bride’s name] for giving me the honor of standing by her side today as her maid of honor.” Remember, the key to a memorable maid of honor speech is sincerity and a touch of humor, sprinkled with personal anecdotes that capture the essence of your relationship with the bride.

How To End A Maid Of Honor Speech

When figuring out how to write a maid of honor speech, keep in mind that the latter part of the speech should be where you talk about the couple. In that vein, it’s also important to know how to end the speech flawlessly. Here are a few tips.

• Keep it short and sweet. While you might have a lot to say, there are time slots for each speech, so keeping things short would be best.
• Use sentimental wedding quotes. You might have a maid of honor speech template you follow but adding inspirational quotes to your speech is a great way to wrap things up.
• Finish with a toast. At the very end, it is customary to raise a toast to the happy couple.

10 Maid Of Honor Speech Tips

After years of helping Maids of Honor deliver awesome speeches, founder of Speechy and author of ‘The Modern Couple’s Guide to Wedding Speeches’, Heidi Ellert-McDermott, shares her tips.

Planning Your Speech

• Think of the speechwriting process as writing a dissertation (only this time, don’t leave it till the night before your deadline!).
• Firstly, jot down all your ideas and favourite stories and then construct a central idea (narrative theme) that you stick to through. It could be that your friend is always right, or maybe the newlyweds prove that opposites really do attract. Whatever it is, make sure your speech flows from one idea to the next, rather than being a list of random thoughts.

Speech Structure

• Remember to introduce yourself and how you know the bride at the start of the speech and try to include humor within the first 30 seconds. Resist the urge to include any of those tired googled-wedding-gags and ensure your line is original and relates to the couple themselves or the surroundings you find yourself in.
• The first three-fifths of the speech should include revealing, entertaining stories that give an insight into the bride and your relationship with her. Don’t be shy of some affectionate teasing.
• Towards the latter half of the speech, introduce her partner and explain why the couple are suited. Again, make sure to include some good-natured humour here.
• The final fifth of your speech could be a full-on love-bomb of a tribute to your friend. Make sure you avoid the usual cliches and platitudes about friendship and instead, try to nail the bride’s individual characteristics and quirks that make you love her.

Edit Your Speech

• When you’ve finished writing your speech, try to edit it in half. You may not achieve it but once you get editing, you’ll be surprised by the amount of needless waffle that’s in there.
• Remember, a speech is better punchy, so be brutal. A good maid of honour speech is generally between 700 and 1,100 words. No more than 10 minutes airtime!

Choosing Quotes for a Memorable Maid of Honor Speech

Talking about love and trying to sum up a friendship, can be hard. Luckily, some other clever people have already done it and we can all exploit their genius! Whilst plagiarism isn’t ever cool, finding the perfect quote to supercharge your speech is a great idea. Founder of Speechy (the bespoke speechwriting service), Heidi Ellert-McDermott, shares her tips for hunting the perfect quote to honour your bestie.

How to Use Quotes

• Don’t resort to a generic ‘marriage advice’ quote. They’re over-used.
• Don’t overload your speech with quotes. One, maximum two.
• Quote recognisable names – or at least provide some context. Don’t quote someone you need to Google or someone who’s a random ‘relationship coach’.
• Once you add the perfect quote to your speech, script a comedy back ref or put it into the context of the couple’s real-life relationship.
• Remember, quotes can be used to add the necessary humor, as well as the sentiment.

Where to Find Quotes

• Don’t just search for ‘wedding quotes’ on Pinterest.
• Quotes become more meaningful if they come from somewhere that means something to the couple. Could the quote come from the bride’s favourite book, her partner’s favourite film, or maybe it’s from that song you play when you’ve both had a few too many dirty martinis.
• Quotes can be found everywhere from children’s books to rom-coms, from hip-hop classics to the great philosophers, from historical icons to classic sitcoms so enjoy the search!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the maid of honor have to give a speech.

It’s definitely customary for the maid of honor to give a toast to the newlyweds at the reception, but usually, she gave a sweet speech.

How long should a maid of honor speech be?

A maid of honor speech should ideally be around 3 to 5 minutes in length. This timeframe allows you to convey your message effectively without losing the audience’s attention or making other speeches feel rushed.

What should be avoided in maid of honor speeches?

When delivering a maid of honor speech, there are a few things to avoid to ensure it is memorable for the right reasons:

• Avoid embarrassing or offensive stories: You shouldn’t share anything that may make the bride uncomfortable or might be inappropriate for the audience.
• Steer clear of inside jokes: Inside jokes may exclude or confuse other guests who are not familiar with the context. Keep your speech inclusive and relatable for everyone present.
• Don’t overshadow the couple: Avoid making the speech all about yourself or unrelated topics that detract from the celebration of the couple’s special day.
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption can impair your ability to deliver a coherent and meaningful message.
• Don’t go on for too long: Avoid rambling or dragging out the speech, as it may lose the interest of the audience.

Remember, the moh speech is an opportunity to celebrate the couple and express your love and support for them.

We hope that now you have everything you need for your perfect maid of honor speech. So just keep all of this in mind as you prepare and deliver your maid of honor speech, and you will be amazing. Make the bride proud she chose you!

Thank you for reading. Please let us know how we did. Your feedback helps improve and provide content that matters to you!

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Writing A Women’s Day Speech: 7 Tips and Examples

Every year on March 8th, the world recognizes International Women’s Day. It’s a day for celebrating the economic, social, cultural, and political accomplishments of women and for celebrating Women’s Rights . In 1911, over a million people from Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland celebrated the first International Women’s Day . Today, in addition to celebrating women’s achievements, IWD is an opportunity to call for gender equality and justice. Speeches are held at events around the world. How do you write a good speech for International Women’s Day? Here are seven tips and examples:

Tip #1: Know your audience

Before writing a speech, you want to know who your audience is and what they care about. Without this information, you may write something that doesn’t resonate. It may not be bad, but it may miss the mark. As an example, if you don’t know recent college graduates make up most of your audience, you may write a speech that fails to take into account their youth, their goals (like starting a career), their knowledge and experience of history, and so on. Your audience’s age is just one piece of information about them. In a 2019 article on Ideas.Ted.com , Briar Goldberg describes how audiences can be broken into three types: expert, novice, and mixed. If you’re speaking to an expert audience, you’ll rely on more complex arguments and terminology than if you were speaking to a novice audience. With mixed audiences, appealing to emotions is often the best choice.

At the 2020 International Finance Corporation’s celebration event for International Women’s Day, the CEO Philippe Le Houérou spoke to his audience’s interests by focusing on economics, numbers, and ways IFC is addressing gender inequality, saying :

“At IFC, we have developed a comprehensive approach to reducing gender inequality. We create partnerships to encourage the hiring of women and improve their working conditions. We help expand access to financial services for women. We invest in innovative technologies that expand choices for female consumers and employment. And we work with partners to provide business skills and leadership training to women entrepreneurs.”

Tip #2: Write a strong opening

A strong opening engages the listener and gives them a general roadmap of your speech. Depending on your speech’s context and audience, you can experiment with opening styles. If you’re speaking to a general audience, an anecdote is a great way to capture your listener’s attention and get them emotionally invested. If your audience consists of experts or academics, it might be best to keep your introduction as brief as possible (many speeches begin with thank yous), so you can spend more time on the speech’s main points.

Consider then-UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri’s 2013 speech to the mostly-expert audience of the Open Society Foundation. Her topic was on the importance of girls’ education. After thanking the audience, she opened with strong, clear language to emphasize the speech’s main message:

“Your Excellencies, fellow panelists, ladies and gentlemen. I am honoured to be participating in this very important side event on the right to education in the post-2015 agenda. I sincerely thank the International Council for Adult Education, the Global Campaign for Education and all of the convening organizations for inviting me to speak today. UN Women considers that education is one of the greatest game-changers for women and girls around the world. It is both an enabler and force multiplier for women’s economic, political and social empowerment and gender equality.”

Tip #3: Include statistics to support your claims

When you’re writing a speech about issues like gender equality in education, healthcare, or the workplace, you want to give the audience specific information about the issue. Without key statistics , the audience won’t know how serious an issue is or what progress is being made. It isn’t enough to say that “many” girls don’t receive equal education compared to boys or that things are “improving.” What are the actual numbers? Sharing statistics also shows you did your research, which gives your words credibility.

You can also include data to show what specific organizations are doing and how they’re impacting gender equality. That’s what Michelle Obama did in her 2016 speech at the Let Girls Learn event that celebrated Women’s Day. She sprinkled facts through her speech on how Let Girls Learn was making a difference. Here’s an example:

“Folks of all ages and all walks of life are stepping up, as well. More than 1,600 people in nearly all 50 states have donated money to Let Girls Learn Peace Corps projects. Our #62MillionGirls hashtag was the number-one hashtag in the U.S., with people across the country talking about the power of education. And we’ll be launching the next phase of this social media campaign next week at South by Southwest.”

Tip #4: Strike the right tone

How do you want to present yourself? What kinds of emotions do you want to stir in your audience? These types of questions help you identify the appropriate tone for your speech. This is another reason why knowing your audience matters. When you’re speaking to a group of seasoned experts in a formal setting, your tone will likely sound more analytical and logical. If you were speaking in a more casual environment to a group unfamiliar with your subject, you’ll probably want to adopt a more personal, conversational style. If you want to provoke emotions in your listeners and get them to care, stories are very effective. If your goal is to inform and educate, it’s wise to rely on facts and stats.

Tracee Ellis Ross’ 2018 TED Talk on women’s anger is a great example of a speech with a tone that fits the speech’s context. She’s speaking to a mixed-gender audience in a non-academic setting. Because the topic she’s covering is personal, she uses a conversational, almost intimate style that switches between the first and second person. She addresses both the women and men in the audience, but keeps the women centered. Here’s an example toward the end of the speech:

“Our culture is shifting, and it’s time. So my fellow women and our gentle men, as we are here together within this particular window of this large-scale movement towards women’s equality, and as we envision a future that does not yet exist, we both have different invitations.”

Tip #5: Pay attention to structure

At their most basic, speeches consist of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Each section serves an important purpose. The introduction establishes your credibility, the speech’s tone, and its goals. The body, which is the main part of the speech, fills in the points you want to cover using statistics, stories, or other forms of evidence. The conclusion wraps everything up and emphasizes what you want your audience to remember. Unlike something that’s written, your audience can’t look back to find their way if they get lost, so as you move through the three sections, you want things to be as clear and simple as possible.

In 2021, Srishti Baksh gave a TedTalk relating her 2,300-mile walk journey across India where she held driving workshops to empower women’s ability to move across the country. She uses a simple structure that opens with the story of the first time she went to a movie alone with her friends at age 14. She was assaulted in the theater. She then zooms out, describing how there are 600 million women in India, but women rarely go outside because they’re not safe. In the body of her speech, she zooms back in to talk about her walking journey, the women she met, the empowering and terrifying things she witnessed, and how she joined forces with another woman to create a movement that trains female drivers. She concludes with a clear message:

“By rethinking mobility for women, giving them a safe transport and safety outside of home, it is our hope to transform our culture. Apart from having a profound impact on the Indian economy, this is about something much bigger. As you all know, when we move, we can be seen. The more women see other women in public spaces, the more safe, independent and empowered each one of us will be. So. If we can learn how to walk, certainly we can learn how to fly.”

Tip #6: Use repetition to your advantage

How do you make sure your audience gets the point of your speech? How do you make your speech – which might be one of many speeches the audience sits through – memorable? Repetition. You want to repeat your main point throughout your speech. It’s a good idea to include it at least three times: in the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. There are other types of repetition that make your speech memorable, too. Repetition can include keywords, phrases, and even the sounds of words. Repetition looks different depending on what kind of speech you’re giving. If you’re giving an emotion-driven speech, frequent repetition of the same words/phrases adds to the emotional punch. For informational or educational speeches where powerful emotions aren’t necessarily appropriate, use different words/phrases to repeat the main point.

For an example of good repetition in a speech, let’s look at Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw’s 2016 Keynote at Women of the World . From a word search, it’s clear what the speech is about. Together, the words “intersectionality” and “intersectional” appear 42 times. Repetition is found within sentences and paragraphs, too:

“There are multiple forms of intersectionality . I could talk about a lot of them, but the kind of intersectionality that I most want to talk about is the intersectionality around politics – political intersectionality .”

“So the question we have to ask is, what can we each do about it? We’ve been saying the first thing you can do about it is say her name. Do not allow her death to happen in silence. Do not allow their children, their loved ones to grieve for them in silence. Do not allow , do not affirm the belief that their lives are insignificant.”

Tip #7: Ask rhetorical questions

Do you want to increase audience engagement? Ask rhetorical questions. When you ask a question, your audience is forced to think more deeply about your words. They’re more likely to listen more closely, as well, since the information that follows a question will provide more context. You can use rhetorical questions in a few ways. You can anticipate a question your audience might have, set up an important point, or even encourage an emotional response. Even though audience members won’t shout out an answer (unless you encourage them to do so), asking questions makes your speech feel more interactive and engaging.

Let’s look at a 2003 speech by Maxine Waters at the National Youth Summit. While it isn’t directly about women’s rights, it serves as a great example of how to use questions in a speech. Right from the beginning, it’s clear this speech is going to be interactive. She says good morning to the audience and then prompts them to answer her. Through the speech, Waters asks many questions (some rhetorical, some direct), all of which make the speech engaging even through a transcript:

“Who makes up this jury? [Waters is discussing a trial involving a White cop and a Black teenager that ended in a hung jury and mistrial] A lot of people were very, very concerned because there was only one black person on the jury. The city of Inglewood is majority minority, and majority African-American. How could this have happened? How could you get a jury with only one black, in a case where the defendants are African-American, in a city where it is majority minority and mostly black? How could this happen?”

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

How To Write A Speech On Women’s Day: Comprehensive Guide With Sample Speech

• Speech Writing

Celebrated for over a century now, Women’s Day has served as an active acknowledgment of the magnificent and fierce force of nature that women are. Observing it is one way of honoring all that they do and are. 

With gender parity becoming a progressively imperative area for our woke society, the Women’s day celebration has been commercialized and far-reaching. 

What that means is that people have started counting it as an event that can be used for raising charity for women-centric NGOs and other funds. That goes on to say that it attracts tonnes of people and involves a lot of public gatherings.

Whether it is a local community celebration, a small social gathering, or large press conferences and fundraisers, all these events have people who are eager to talk about a bunch of things revolving around women. 

While the spectrum for the topics you could talk about is very wide, this article will help you curate a speech that stands out and makes it a memorable one for the audience. 

What is the history of Women’s Day?

While it is not something you must necessarily include in your speech, it’s good to know the relevance and context of the occasion.

Marked every year on March 8th, the first ever Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911 and supported by over a million people. 

It came about as a long due response to the repressive tendencies of the society. An agitated reaction to the disparity in working conditions between men and women. Today, it calls for celebrating women in social, economic, political, and domestic spheres of life in personal and professional capacities. 

If you wish to know more about the history of Women’s Day in detail, here’s some timeline-based information you can find on the web: History of International Women’s Day

What can you talk about on Women’s Day?

Needless to say, the central topic you would need to focus on is women. However, the scope of things you could talk about related to women is far more extensive than you’d think. 

Historically, the gender dynamics in society have been known to be inherently skewed in one direction. The hegemonic patriarchal structure has alienated women to a subordinate position in personal and professional spaces.

Women till date, are treated like the ‘other’ or deviated from the norm that is male-centric. The injustices inflicted on women are agitating to even think about. 

So, you could choose to talk about the aforementioned injustices (because, believe me, there are many), or you could talk about the progress we have made so far in eradicating them. These are, however, the most common topics that are saturated on every Women’s Day.

You need your speech to stand out, and for that, you need to write something that adds new value instead of reiterating the same old ones.

The key to a good speech is to give the audience what they’re not getting to hear already.

That is not to say that we should stop talking about all that is wrong with gender dynamics, however, a good speech would bring to light the already existing conflicts in a new way. Here’s where you can get creative with your words. Read further to understand.

Having said that, International Women’s Day is not just about looking at the past. Apart from these things, you could also talk about the accomplishments women have made in praise of them. 

One REALLY relevant, unconventional, and new area you could focus on is body positivity and talking about gender identity. You could back up with statistics the number of women who struggle with body positivity, the numbers are alarming!

Besides, the LGBTQ+ community also has women or people who identify as women, this is a perfect opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate them.

There are so many strong women who defy the norm and rise through ranks. Women’s Day is also an occasion to celebrate women, more than anything.

Things to keep in mind while writing a Women’s Day speech

So, to give you a few practical examples, here’s a list of potential topics you could talk about:

1. Feminism in *name of your country* 

“Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.” ― Cheris Kramarae

Feminism is a hot topic in the 21st century. It is almost always spoken about on Women’s Day. It’s one of the most influential movements that our society has come up with. 

However, like any other radical movement, it has as many critics as supporters. The cultural interrogation of feminism differs from country to country, since it’s perceived differently.

You could do extensive research about what it is like to be a feminist in your own country. Your speech could comprise YOUR personal, subjective experience, your struggles, your achievements, etc. 

Reference: For example, check out Malala Yousafzai’s speech on how Feminism is not complicated

2. Educate a woman, educate a generation

Women and education is another very sensitive area on a global level. There are still countries that restrict women’s access to education to this date, even after the third wave of Feminism. 

This is why it is important to bring it up consistently every time, to start conversations, to bring this grave issue to the forefront. 

In this speech, you could give some really upsetting statistics about the percentage of women deprived of one of the most fundamental rights, and move on to paint a picture of a society where women are less educated, and predict the consequences it would have. 

Reference: Here’s Angelina Jolie addressing the 25th AU Summit 2015, another great example you could check out!

3. Empower & unite: a vision

This is a rather umbrella topic. Women are empowered by change. Any real difference requires a real change.

Just talking about equality does not warrant it.

A speech here can be made about what groundwork must one do in practical day-to-day life to bring about the desired change.

A vision has to be formed of the society that women feel accepted and welcomed in, and then steps to move towards it can be enlightened. 

For example, education policies can be enacted, NGOs can be formed, you can also mention the progress already made in these areas.

Reference: Here’s yet another strong global female figure, Meghan Markle’s UN Women speech on “Speak up for your values “

Writing the Speech: Main Guide

Well then, with some prompts and examples to lay the groundwork, let’s move on to the actual process of writing the speech on Women’s Day.

There are a few things that you need to keep in mind, the following includes some tips along with a step-by-step procedure.

• Target a core message you want to convey and build your speech around it, or better yet, design your speech in such a way that leads UP TO this core message.
• Organize your speech. (read further in the steps)
• While writing the speech, think of yourself as an audience member, shifting perspective from speaker to listener helps you eliminate boring things sometimes.
• Build a rough skeleton of your speech, what point would segue into what. Arrange the order of the subtopics.  
• Decide the duration of your speech in advance, it helps you narrow down to key points and cut down unnecessary jargon. It also helps if you set a timer during your practice.
• Reiteration is fine, but don’t repeat your points too many times. It gets boring for people sometimes. 
• If talking about radical notions like feminism, try not to go too hardcore since these topics attract extreme opinions and reactions. You don’t want things to get too heated.
• Make sure you don’t just talk about the mainstream “issues” of women. It could make your speech generic and repetitive, and hence, less impactful. Try to cover a bunch of areas, some a little optimistic perhaps.

Well, with those in mind, let’s move on to a step-by-step guide!

You must’ve heard a thousand times that structure is the most essential tool when writing or giving a speech, and that’s because it is. Any great speech has a very apparent beginning, middle, and end. 

With that being said, let’s get to this specific topic. While talking on Women’s Day, it is a good idea to begin by appreciating and acknowledging women of all kinds, and all that they do, how our lives are so much better with them in it.

Remember, this day is about *celebrating* women.

After this, the direction you take your speech in differs according to your core message. For example, if you want to talk about gender neutrality, you can move on to the disparities that sadly still exist in our society.

You can also talk about the urgency to change the general mindset about the “othering” of women. You can mention how if you’re not actively trying to bring about change, you’re passively contributing to an unfortunate reality.  

Try using strong words like “unfortunate”, “contribution”, “challenge” that evoke the audience.

And finally, and most importantly, always end on a positive note. Not just anything though, mention the progress that’s been made by people towards bringing about the change. 

For example, you could mention the Let Girls Learn initiative by Michelle Obama aimed at providing education to adolescent girls. 

Ending on a positive note brings a sense of hope.

Another very important thing you need to keep in mind is that while the guide might help you with constructing a speech, the words are going to be yours.

And to make sure that your words hook the audiences’ attention, you need to have some really impressive opening lines, because that is when their attention span is at its peak!

To help with just that, we have written a whole article about speech openers, you can check them out here: 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Additionally, you need to make sure that the end of your speech packs and ties the whole essence together. Here are 15 Powerful Speech Ending Lines (And Tips to Create Your Own)

#PURPOSE & #TONE

The purpose of a speech could be delivering the core message we spoke about, or it could be getting your audience to act on something. It’s the REASON for giving that particular speech.

As yourself, do you want to alert your audience? or do you want to challenge them? Do you want to educate them? Or just provide insights? Answering these questions for yourself will help you find the purpose.

The tone of your speech goes hand in hand with the purpose. For example, if your purpose is to ignite a passion towards women’s empowerment, then your tone would be definitive, assertive, and strong. It would involve saying phrases like “We MUST”, “We HAVE to”, etc.

Meanwhile, if it’s to just deliver facts in a non-aggressive way, then your tone would be soft-spoken with pauses for people to ponder. It is very important to align your tone with the purpose. 

As mentioned in the tips, you must decide upon the duration of time you want to speak. As it is, our attention spans are progressively shrinking. Hence, it is important to convey what you wish to within the shortest time frame possible.

Compress your data. Include facts, but only sprinkle them throughout like pepper. Don’t go overloaded with statistics. People withdraw the fastest when they hear numbers too much. 

Your speech should be moving, and while numbers help, let your own words do the magic instead of relying too much on numbers. 

Ideally, a good speech about an occasion like Women’s Day goes on till about 3-5 minutes. Unless you want to dive into a specific topic and dig deep. Again, it depends on the audience you’re catering to.

A group of social activists wouldn’t mind an hour-long speech, even. But kids, or maybe community meetings tend to lose focus faster if they’re not motivated about the subject as strongly. 

#CREATIVITY

Creativity is a massive spectrum. There are hundreds of aids you could use to enhance your speech, even make it a performance if you may. 

But a few examples that I can think of are using visual aids, making a PPT with colorful graphs and flowcharts to depict statistics instead of saying them. 

Some people have a strong visual memory, so you’d be making a stronger impact on them by showing them instead of telling them. Not to mention color attracts and even retains attention.

Other than that, you could show a short film, or even an ad campaign in the beginning to set the base strong, or create the mood. 

For example, here’s a Reebok campaign ad that their brand did in 2018 for a women empowerment initiative. You could show it to your audience in the beginning to build a context. Additionally, some ads leave a long-lasting impact.

With these tools, you’re all set to begin curating your speech. Remember to make it personal, adding anecdotes from your life or people you know it’s what makes your speech real, and hence, stand out.

Sample Speech

Before I begin my speech, I want us all to do a little imaginative exercise today. Ready? I want you all to close your eyes. Take a deep breath, and picture what I’m saying. Imagine being in a really long, dark hallway. You can see a door in some distance but you have to squint your eyes. There is light outside the door. Normally, you’d want to reach out to that door and walk out happily into the light. Now imagine your hands being tied, restricting your movement. And the pathway leading to the door is peppered with shattered glass. And the ceiling is also made of glass where you can look at your reflection and see someone tired of trying. Meanwhile, a whole group of people pass by you, look at you, judge you, objectify you, and swiftly move towards the door because their pathway is smooth. Open your eyes. Ladies and gentlemen, what you just imagined is what we call being a woman. Welcome to our world. Women. The pillars of our society, the nurturers of our progeny, the threads weaving our communities together. Women. To say that they are the physical manifestation of strength itself would be a gross understatement. Today, women around us are excelling in all spheres that mankind has designed, making this world a better place to live in, little by little. Be it a homemaker, a professionally devoted one, or any other kind, our mothers, sisters, teachers, aunts, daughters, and friends are rays of inspiration to us.

I look around today and see these absolutely wonderful women who are extremely loved. But that’s not all I see. I also see victims. Victims of heinous crimes like rapes, abuse, torture. But the victimization isn’t limited to just punishable offenses, there are women I see who fall prey to silent killers of joy. Victims of emotional abuse, women stuck in long miserable marriages too afraid to break out of it for the sake of putting up with ridiculous notions of society that undermine them. Other than that, can you believe it is estimated that 60 percent of chronically hungry people are women and girls? Women make up more than two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate people. The list of appalling facts and figures goes on… Gaps between men and women exist in areas from pay ranges to decision making to accessibility in health services and education. The UN has made a LIST on their websites that is full of these shocking gaps. It is sad how long you have to scroll to reach the end.

We are living in the 21st century. There is not a single shred of doubt in the fact that a woman can become and conquer anything that she desires. History tells us, however, that this has been a result of an unbearably long journey of revolts and movements against a society that was designed to put women down, to undermine them. Where the only criteria to determine their worth was how pretty they are or how well they cook and clean. Patriarchy is so deeply rooted in the fabric of so many countries that there are still people who continue to follow those notions about women. And for them, I have one word: Ignorant. Yes, they are ignorant to the grave consequences of perpetuating gender parity, ignorant to the fact that women are just as human as men, ignorant to all the possibilities a woman if given, can emerge gloriously from. Let me reiterate to you people today, WOMEN BELONG TO THE WORLD, NOT INSIDE KITCHENS. The rise of women does NOT equate to the fall of men. And anyone who thinks so has my deepest sympathies for the blind ignorance. 

I’m sure you’ve heard of Sudha Murty, one of the well-renowned authors of India and a philanthropist. But she is still sometimes referred to as “the wife” of the founder of the Infosys Foundation, even though she herself is the chairperson of the same company. Something to know about this extraordinary woman is that she is now 70 years old, which means she graduated high school in a time when it was norm to treat women as secondary beings. In an age like that, she dared to dream to become an engineer. Her family wasn’t supportive of it, because then nobody would marry her, of course. But she went ahead and pursued it anyway. It is to be noted that she was the only woman among 599 engineering students. She then went on to smash the stereotypes and bag a job in TELCO, one of India’s biggest automobile firms, which again, she got because she stood up for herself and the discrimination against women. By the way, the educational authorities during her time were so indifferent that they didn’t even build ladies bathrooms in the institution. This led to Sudha to bring a real change and build over 16,000 toilets after Infosys happened. Today, she is looked upto for the courage she had to raise her voice and be the first woman for so many things, it is revolutionary to witness it. T he cloud isn’t entirely dark .Today, industries and organizations are taking active steps towards eradicating the orthodox mentality. There are women crushing and dominating the glass ceiling in all professional fields. Global organizations such as the UN are working towards women empowerment on a large scale, Feminism is in its third wave on an international scale. We are certainly moving towards a future where it’s not about men and women, it’s about being HUMANS, and that, considering everything, is a win.  To conclude with the remarkable words of Megan Markle, a wonderful representation of strong globally impactful women and the UN women’s advocate for political participation and leadership, “It isn’t enough to simply talk about equality, one must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to simply believe in it, one must work at it. let us work at it. Together, starting now”

Happy Women’s Day!

Every year, you may find people adopting a theme for advertisement campaigns or public speeches in order to focus on a particular area that women need to be celebrated in. It can serve as the necessary prompt for you to curate your speech.

Other than that, we hope this guide helped you coming up with a great speech on International Women’s day!

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23 Of The Best Speeches That Have Been Delivered By Inspiring Women

"When you are excellent ... you become an unforgettable woman."

BuzzFeed Contributor

March is Women's History Month, and there are many areas in life to celebrate outstanding contributions from amazing women.

One example is speeches — some of the most inspiring talks in history have been spoken by female orators like sojourner truth, oprah winfrey, and susan b. anthony. these 23 speeches delivered by women will inspire you to use your voice and stand in your power., 1. oprah winfrey's spelman college commencement speech..

Oprah encouraged the Spelman College class of 2012 to know who they are and what they want in life, use their gifts to serve the world, and always do the right thing. She also discussed how doing your best, regardless of what stage you're at in life, sets you up for success.

"Be excellent. People notice," Oprah said. "Even at Taco Bell, excellence shows itself  ... What I know is that when you are excellent, you become unforgettable. People remember you. You stand out. Regardless of what it is, you become an unforgettable woman."

2. Madonna's Billboard Woman of the Year speech.

When Madonna accepted Billboard's Woman of the Year award in 2016, she used her time onstage to address double standards faced by women and encouraged women to surround themselves with empowered allies.

"Women have been so oppressed for so long, they believe what men have to say about them, and they believe they have to back a man to get the job done," Madonna said. "And there are some very good men worth backing, but not because they're men — because they're worthy. As women, we have to start appreciating our own worth and each other's worth. Seek out strong women to befriend, to align yourself with, to learn from, to be inspired by, to collaborate with, to support, to be enlightened by."

3. Michelle Obama's The City College of New York commencement speech.

Michelle spoke at The City College of New York for her final commencement address as First Lady of the United States in 2016. She urged the graduating class to embrace difficulties they may face in life and see them as opportunities for growth.

"You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage," Michelle said. "Instead, it's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages."

4. Priyanka Chopra's Variety Power of Women speech.

When  Priyanka spoke  at Variety's Power of Women event in 2017, she said numerous personal experiences led her to creating The  Priyanka Chopra Foundation for Health and Education and partnering with UNICEF. 

One especially impactful moment for her was when she learned that her housekeeper's daughter had stopped going to school because it was too expensive for all of her siblings to attend. Instead, her brothers were chosen to become educated for fear that it would "be a waste of money" if the girl would later choose to get married.

"I was completely blown [away], and it shook me to my core," Priyanka said of this experience. "Eventually, I decided to cover the cost of her education so she could continue to learn because education is a basic human right and a huge necessity, especially today. From that point on, I was determined to make a difference in as many children's lives as I could in whatever big or small way that I could contribute."

5. Gloria Steinem's '70s Women's Liberation Rally speech.

"I would not have admitted my own inequality, even though I had been refused apartments by landlords who would not rent to women and refused access to supposedly public places," Gloria said  to the crowd at the rally.

"Now, thanks to the spirit of equality in the air, and to the work of many of my more foresighted sisters, I no longer accept society's judgment that my group is second class," she added.

6. Rihanna's Harvard University Humanitarian of the Year speech.

Harvard University named Rihanna as their Humanitarian of the Year in 2017  for her philanthropic endeavors, including her work in founding the Clara Lionel Foundation . The singer, actor, and businessperson visited the campus and spoke to Harvard students and faculty about humanitarianism.

"I know that each and every one of you has the opportunity to help someone else," Rihanna said. "All you need to do is help one person, expecting nothing in return. To me, that is a humanitarian."

7. Luvvie Ajayi Jones' TED Talk on getting out of your comfort zone.

During her TED Talk,  Luvvie encouraged listeners to become comfortable being uncomfortable. She said it took her years before she was able to call herself a writer, and, since that proclamation, she decided to force herself into more situations outside of her comfort zone.

"I realized fear has a very concrete power of keeping us from doing and saying the things that are our purpose," Luvvie said. "And I was like, you know what? I'm not gonna let fear rule my life. I'm not gonna let fear dictate what I do. And then, all these awesome things started happening, and dominoes started to fall."

8. Jessica Chastain's Screen Actors Guild Award acceptance speech.

In February 2022, Jessica won the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye . She took a moment to acknowledge aspiring actors during her acceptance speech.

"I've wanted to be an actor my whole life, and ever since I was a kid it was the only thing I really ever though about," Jessica said. "There were years of studying and auditioning and not getting jobs ... I know what [that] feels like, and I know the loneliness of what that feels like. And so, for those of you who are struggling and feeling unseen, I just want you to know to keep going, 'cause you're one job away, I promise."

9. Emma Watson's HeForShe campaign speech.

Emma became a United Nations ambassador in 2014 and co-hosted an event for UN Women's HeForShe Campaign the same year. She gave a speech at the ceremony, during which she clarified the meaning of feminism and urged men to become involved in the fight for gender equality.

"The more I've spoken about feminism, the more I have realized that fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating," Emma said. "If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop. For the record, feminism, by definition, is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes."

10. Malala Yousafzai's Nobel Prize Concert speech.

When she talked at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2015, Malala used her platform to advocate for educating all children. She also stated that ensuring every child receives a quality education is a "collective campaign," wherein everyone must work together and do what they can to support the cause.

"I simply ask that the right to learning should be given to any child. I ask for nothing else," Malala said. "But unfortunately, there are 57 million children who are out of school."

"I request all of you to think today, that, how you can help? How can you help these children to go to school?" she added.

11. Debbie Sterling's TED Talk on females in engineering.

Debbie discussed  the lack of female engineers for her 2013 TEDxPSU speech. After earning her degree in engineering, Debbie learned that she had been at a disadvantage with underdeveloped spatial skills, and people who are more adept at these skills often grew up playing with construction toys. So, she decided to quit her job and create toys to help young girls develop engineering abilities, which led to GoldieBlox , her toy and entertainment company.

After being told that engineering toys geared at young girls don't sell, Debbie initiated a Kickstarter campaign to fund her idea, which led to her raising $150,000 in four days.

"The world was waiting for this; they wanted this," Debbie said. "The toy industry had it wrong. Yeah, sure, some girls like princesses and tiaras, and I like that stuff, too, but there's so much more to us than that. There's so much potential."

12. Sojourner Truth's Women’s Rights Convention speech.

In 1851, Sojourner, a  women's rights activist and abolitionist, gave a speech  at the convention, and in 1863 its transcription was re-released. Although this later version is often remembered by history, the original transcription of her talk is much truer to Sojourner's words on gender equality. 

"I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man," the original transcription reads on the Sojourner Truth Project website. "I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that? I have heard much about the sexes being equal; I can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if I can get it. I am as strong as any man that is now."

13. Maya Angelou's inaugural poem speech.

At former president Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration, Maya recited her poem  "On the Pulse of Morning." Through this speech,  she made history as the first Black woman to write and read a poem at an inauguration ceremony for a US president.

"Lift up your eyes upon this day breaking for you. Give birth again to the dream. Women, children, men, take it into the palms of your hands, mold it into the shape of your most private need. Sculpt it into the image of your most public self. Lift up your hearts. Each new hour holds new chances for a new beginning," she said at the ceremony.

14. Lisa Nichols' motivational speech.

"Other people's perception of you ain't none of your business," Lisa said in her 2018 speech. "Everything you've ever been through, set through, rose through, cried through, prayed through, everything is a setup for your next best season."

The author and speaker also expressed the importance of not changing yourself or limiting your potential to fit other people's points of view.

"You're gonna find people that can't handle your light," she said. "After today, turn the lights up. After today, you don't dare dim your light."

15. Deshauna Barber's speech on persistence.

While she was in college and working part time at Target, a stranger approached Deshauna and encouraged her to try to become the next Miss USA , she said in her 2017  commencement speech at her alma mater, the University of Maryland University. Deshauna lost at the state pageant level for six straight years, but, with determination, went on to become Miss USA in 2016 . 

"I ask only one thing of you all today after you leave this building: Do not fear failure, but please be terrified of regret, as giving up is the birth of regret," Deshauna said. "After you walk out this door, you will receive 100 doors shut, slammed in your face. You will have 100 moments that will be filled with someone telling you no ... What I ask of you today is to not take no for an answer."

16. Jennifer Aniston's Variety Power of Women speech.

At Variety's 2019 Power of Women event, Jennifer spoke about her partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which started when actor Marlo Thomas introduced her to their work. She's now been a partner of the hospital for over 25 years, and she emphasized the importance of making children feel valued during the speech.

"That is what every child deserves to know: that they are seen, that they are powerful and they are loved, and that they deserve a seat at the table," Jennifer said. "And that anything they have to say, or any question they have to ask is of value, even if we don't have all the answers for it."

17. Dolores Huerta's National Farm Workers Association rally speech.

An archival transcription from KQED news  documented Dolores's impassioned 1966 speech at a NFWA  march and rally , which focused on gaining rights for agricultural workers. 

"The social and economic revolution of the farm workers is well underway and it will not be stopped until we receive equality," Dolores said. "The farm workers are moving. Nothing is going to stop them ... We may act in strange and unusual ways in our organizing, but we’re willing to try new and unused methods to achieve justice for the farm workers."

18. Greta Thunberg's Climate Action Summit speech.

Greta's speech at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit confronted the world leaders' lack of urgency in addressing the need for climate action. 

"People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing," Greta said . "We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you?! ... How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you're doing enough when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight?"

19. Larissa Martinez's valedictorian speech.

During her 2016 valedictorian speech at her high school graduation in Texas,  Larissa opened up  about being an undocumented immigrant. 

“I decided to stand before you today and reveal this unexpected reality because this might be the only chance to convey to you all that undocumented immigrants are people too," she said . "Immigrants, undocumented or otherwise, are ... people with dreams, aspirations, hopes, and loved ones."

20. Susan B. Anthony's women's right to vote speech.

In 1873, Susan delivered her speech addressing women's right to vote at different locations throughout the state of New York.

"It was we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, nor yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed this Union," Susan said. "And we formed it, not to give the blessings or liberty, but to secure them; not to the half of ourselves and the half of our posterity, but to the whole people — women as well as men. And it is downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the use of the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government — the ballot."

21. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's feminism speech.

Chimamanda, the author of We Should All Be Feminists ,  gave a speech at TEDxEuston  in 2011. She explained the damaging impact of gender norms, then encouraged everyone to embrace feminism in order to accomplish positive changes.

"We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller," Chimamanda said. "We say to girls, you can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful; otherwise you will threaten the man. If you are the breadwinner in your relationship with a man, you have to pretend that you're not. Especially in public. Otherwise, you will emasculate him. But what if we questioned the premise itself: Why should a woman's success be a threat to a man?"

22. Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem speech.

Amanda, who is the first US youth poet laureate , recited her poem "The Hill We Climb" at President Biden's 2021 inauguration ceremony . In doing so, she became the youngest poet in history to write a poem for a presidential inauguration.

"If we're to live up to our own time, then victory won't lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we've made. That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb, if only we dare," Amanda said. "It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit. It's the past we step into and how we repair it. We've seen a force that would shatter our nation, rather than share it, would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated."

23. Hillary Clinton's women's rights are human rights speech.

In 1995, Hillary spoke  for the United Nations Fourth Women's Conference in Beijing, China. Her speech presented women's rights as human rights, using a phrase that has origins in the Global South.

"It is time for us to say here in Beijing, and for the world to hear, that it is no longer acceptable to discuss women's rights as separate from human rights," she said, before adding, "If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights, once and for all."

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The 15 greatest speeches of all time, by 15 inspirational women

We celebrate the greatest speeches of all time, spoken by women who have changed the world for the better

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Let these greatest speeches of all time empower you as a woman and unite us all in a quest for positive change. Words can be incredibly powerful, as is shown in these insightful, spine-tingling and, at times, revolution-inspiring speeches, spoken by great women throughout history, such as Maya Angelo and Emmeline Pankhurst, as well as modern change-makers like Amanda Gorman and Emma Watson . 

It's easy for women's voices to get lost in a sea of historical rhetoric. The most quoted speeches of all time are often those delivered by men, the words of many great women swept under the carpet. Swimming against the current, women have had to speak louder to get their voices heard. In the words of Virginia Woolf, they've had to create a room of their own. So we've rounded up fifteen inspirational women to celebrate those who found a room and encouraged others to do the same. 

Many of these speeches remain relevant for women fighting for equality in a social and political landscape where women are still under-represented. Take for example, Emma Watson's UN "He For She" speech— a decade later, we are still fighting for  equal pay . Or Hillary Clinton's impassioned delivery of "women's rights are human rights"—a quote that feels more relevant than ever considering the overturning of  Roe Vs Wade  in the US and ongoing regressive and oppressive policies worldwide. 

Now more than ever, women must support other women and not only allow their voices to be heard but help amplify the message they share. To inspire you to do the same, these are fifteen of the greatest speeches of all time. 

The greatest speeches of all time by women

1. virginia woolf, "a room of one's own" (1928).

"My belief is that if we live another century or so—I am talking of the common life which is the real life and not of the little separate lives which we live as individuals—and have five hundred a year each of us and rooms of our own; if we have the habit of freedom and the courage to write exactly what we think..."

Based on a series of lectures Woolf delivered in October 1928, A Room Of One's Own has since been heralded as a feminist manifesto. Her words continue to inspire women in 2015 nearly a century after she first spoke them. 

The speech strikes at the heart of patriarchy and argues that without financial independence and access to education—ideological, social and creative freedom is out of reach. Virginia knew this truth all too well: her own father believed only boys profited from schooling. As a result, she didn't go. Her strength of spirit defied even her own father: "Lock up your libraries if you like", she said, "but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind."

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2. Emma Watson, "Gender equality is your issue too" (2014)

"I am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights."

In 2014, Emma Watson partnered with UN Women to launch their HeForShe campaign fighting to end gender inequality and it's still relevant nearly a decade later.

"In 1995, Hilary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women’s rights. Sadly many of the things she wanted to change are still a reality today." Watson continues, and speaking of Clinton... 

3. Hillary Clinton, "Women's Rights Are Human Rights" (1995)

"If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights once and for all. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely—and the right to be heard."

Five words that said it all: "Women's rights are human rights".

In 1995, Hillary Clinton's speech at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing marked a watershed moment for women's rights. What makes this speech so inspirational isn't just the words she spoke but where she spoke them. Defying both US administration and Chinese pressure to dilute her remarks, she went for the jugular. It was a full-blown attack against policies abusing "unheard" women around the globe—not just China.

4.  Malala Yousafzai's "I am here to stand up for their rights, to raise their voice" (2014)

"I am those 66 million girls who are deprived of education. And today I am not raising my voice, it is the voice of those 66 million girls. Sometimes people like to ask me why should girls go to school, why is it important for them. But I think the more important question is why shouldn’t they? Why shouldn’t they have this right to go to school?"

At the age of 17 Malala Yousafzai was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her work fighting for every child to receive an education. As the youngest winner of the prize,  the activist's powerful acceptance speech is not one to be forgotten. 

"Let us become the first generation that decides to be the last that sees empty classrooms, lost childhoods and wasted potentials. Let this be the last time that a girl or a boy spends their childhood in a factory. Let this be the last time that a girl is forced into early child marriage.

"Let this end with us. Let’s begin this ending . . . together . . . today . . . right here, right now. Let’s begin this ending now."

5. Sojourner Truth, "Ain't I A Woman" (1851)

'I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that?'  

Named Isabella Baumfree , it says a great deal about Sojourner that she called herself Truth. She spoke it. An African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist, Truth was born into slavery in New York, sold at auction with a flock of sheep for $100 in 1806, escaping with her baby daughter in 1826. 

Oprah Winfrey has recited Truth's inspirational speech many times since.

6. Nora Ephron, "Commencement Address To Wellesley Class Of 1996" (1996)

"Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there. And I also hope that you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women."

Nora also spiked her speech with words of caution: "Understand: every attack on Hillary Clinton for not knowing her place is an attack on you," she rallied. Her words still echo today and one sentence rings eternally true: "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

7. Aung San Suu Kyi, "Freedom From Fear" (1990)

"Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavour, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one's actions, courage that could be described as 'grace under pressure'—grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh, unremitting pressure."

Burma's "woman of destiny" has inspired millions during her lifetime of political activism and captivity, held under house arrest for 15 of the past 21 years in Burma. Receiving the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990, this now-famous speech followed in acceptance appeals to the spirituality of human nature: it's bravery, compassion and conviction.

8. Gloria Steinem, "Address to the Women of America" (1971)

"This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution. Sex and race, because they are easy, visible differences, have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups, and into the cheap labour on which this system still depends. We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen, or those earned. We are really talking about humanism."

In 1971 Gloria Steinem delivered an inspiring Address to the Women of America . It would soon be regarded as one of the most memorable speeches of the second-wave feminist era. What made her speech so powerful wasn't just its attack on sexism, but its focus on the intersectional issues of racism and class.

9. Greta Thunberg, "We'll be watching you" (2019)

"I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you? You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, and yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering, people are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth."

Greta Thunberg was only a teenager when she gave one of the most powerful speeches on climate change . Thunberg's United Nations speech in 2019 is the one everyone remembers when the name Greta Thunberg comes to mind. Albeit only a teenager, she has made many a powerful speech since, including asking world leaders to stop delivering ‘empty promises’. 

10. Maya Angelou, "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993)

'"Here on the pulse of this new day, you may have the grace to look up and out And into your sister's eyes, Into your brother's face, your country And say simply Very simply With hope Good morning."

Maya Angelou was only the second poet in history to read a poem at a presidential inauguration, and the first African American and woman. Touching upon the themes of change, inclusion and responsibility, it has since been called Angelou's "autobiographical poem".

Maya Angelou was an extraordinarily wise woman . One of her most inspiring quotes to live by? 

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

11. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, "The Value of Diversity" (2009)

"As you leave here and proceed along life’s paths, try to leave tracks. Use the education you have received to help repair tears in your communities. Take part in efforts to move those communities, your Nation, and our world closer to the conditions needed to ensure the health and well-being of your generation and generations following your own."

Ruth Bader Ginsberg delivered this passionate keynote speech to graduates at Sciences Po in 2009. Nicknamed the 'notorious RBG' for her fighting spirit and tireless pursuit towards equality, in terms of both gender and race, this speech emphasises the importance of 'repairing the tears' in communities and coming together to build a stronger world for the generations after us. 

She explains earlier in the speech: "We will all profit from a more diverse, inclusive society, understanding, accommodating, even celebrating our differences, while pulling together for the common good."

After her passing in 2020, former President of the United States Barack Obama published a statement that read: “She was someone who believed that equal justice under law only had meaning if it applied to every single [individual].”

12. Julia Gillard "Misogyny speech" (2012)

"I rise to oppose the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition, and in so doing I say to the Leader of the Opposition: I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. The government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man—not now, not ever.

"I hope the Leader of the Opposition has a piece of paper and he is writing out his resignation, because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia he does not need a motion in the House of Representatives; he needs a mirror. That is what he needs."

In an iconic moment in feminist history, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave an impassioned speech on misogyny that has continued to hold its power to this day. Julia's speech was in response to opposition leader Tony Abbott accusing her of sexism, calling for her to sack Speaker Peter Slipper following an accusation of misogynistic text messages. 

Julia later said of the speech : "After every sexist thing directed at me that I’d bitten my lip on, now I was going to be accused of sexism – the unfairness of that. That anger propelled it.”

13. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "We should all be feminists" (2011)

“Why the word feminist? Why not just say you are a believer in human rights, or something like that?” Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general - but to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender. It would be a way of pretending that it was not women who have, for centuries, been excluded. It would be a way of denying that the problem of gender targets women. That the problem was not about being human, but specifically about being a female human. For centuries, the world divided human beings into two groups and then proceeded to exclude and oppress one group. It is only fair that the solution to the problem acknowledge that.”

Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TedTalks is widely regarded as one of the platform’s best-ever speeches. So much so, that it’s been published as a book and translated into 32 languages. 

In the thirty-minute talk address, she argued for women’s rights and inclusivity and drew on her own experiences. Oh, and Beyonce sampled the speech in her song Flawless .

14. Amanda Gorman "The Hill We Climb" (2021)

“We are striving to forge our union with purpose.

To compose a country committed to all cultures, colours, characters, and conditions of man.

And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.”

The first person ever to be named National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman — then only 22 — was catapulted to fame after she performed her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 inauguration of Joe Biden. Her work addresses sustainability, feminism, racism, and inequality. 

15. Michelle Obama "The 2018 United State of Women Summit" (2018)

“I wish that girls could fail as bad as men do and be OK. Because let me tell you, watching men fail up, it is frustrating. It’s frustrating to see a lot of men blow it and win. And we hold ourselves to these crazy, crazy standards.”

Speaking to Tracee Ellis Ross at the 2018 United State of Women Summit in Los Angeles, Michelle Obama called on the need for girls to be believed in, invested in, and nurtured the way that boys and men are. “If we want our daughters to dream bigger than we did, then we have more work to do,” she said. The speech launched a global petition calling lawmakers to #LeveltheLaw to “empower girls and women around the world”. 

If you're searching for more inspiration on the themes in these speeches, we've rounded up all the best feminist books to add to your reading list and four feminist petitions to sign. 

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10 Famous Speeches To Ignite The Feminist Fire Within You

Be inspired by the words of these powerful women

Throughout history, so many of the people to make us stop and take note with their famous speeches have been women. From the women's suffrage movement in the 1800s and feminism's second wave in the 1970s to the global Women's March in 2017, the words and actions of famous figures such as Emmeline Pankhurst, Virginia Woolf, Maya Angelou and Gloria Steinhem (to name just a few) have transformed society.

It might explain then why the theme of International Women's Day 2021 was #ChooseToChallenge. We can learn so much from the powerful actions and inspiring words of the women who came before us – but, also, there's still so much work we have to do. It's our duty to carry on their work, challenging and changing and speaking up for equality .

And so here, we've rounded up the most famous speeches from a new era of women, who are continuing the task of transforming opinions, breaking boundaries and inspiring us all to keep choosing to challenge. Listen, learn and take note.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Will Not Accept Your Apology

After Florida Representative Ted Yoho reportedly called Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 'a f*cking b*tch' on the steps of the Capitol in July 2020, he tried to excuse his behaviour by saying he has a wife and daughters. In response, AOC (as she's commonly referred to) took to the House floor with what has since been hailed 'the most important feminist speech of a generation' – fluently and passionately detailing why his 'apology' was, simply, not good enough.

Quotes of note:

'I am someone's daughter too. My father, thankfully, is not alive to see how Mr Yoho treated his daughter. My mother got to see Mr. Yoho's disrespect on the floor of this House towards me on television, and I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men.

'What I believe is that having a daughter does not make a man decent. Having a wife does not make a decent man. Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man, and when a decent man messes up, as we all are bound to do, he tries his best and does apologise.'

Natalie Portman On Dismantling The Patriarchy

From her smart quip of 'here are all the male nominees' at the 2018 Golden Globes , calling out the women directors snubbed for the category, to her rousing 'f*ck up and thrive, sisters' speech at the ELLE Women In Hollywood event in 2019, Portman consistently calls out inequality in the film industry. And the actor's address at Variety's Women of Power event in 2019 was no different. In what is now referred to as 'Natalie Portman's Step-by-Step Guide to Toppling the Patriarchy', she made a strong case for all the ways in which we, as individuals, can make a difference.

'Be embarrassed if everyone in your workplace looks like you. Pay attention to physical ability, age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and make sure you've got all kinds of experiences represented.

'Stop the rhetoric that a woman is crazy or difficult. If a man says a woman is crazy or difficult, ask him: What bad thing did you do to her? It's code that he is trying to discredit her reputation. Make efforts to hire people who've had their reputations smeared in retaliation.'

Michelle Obama On The Inequality Of Failure

Let's be honest: there are so many Michelle Obama speeches to choose from – the former FLOTUS is renowned for her passion for equality and her ability to uplift others with her words. But in a poignant keynote conversation with Tracee Ellis Ross at the United State of Women Summit in 2018, Obama spoke openly about the often-overlooked inequality of failure, and the disparities in repercussions for men and women.

Quote of note:

'I wish that girls could fail as bad as men do and be OK. Because let me tell you, watching men fail up, it is frustrating. It's frustrating to see a lot of men blow it and win. And we hold ourselves to these crazy, crazy standards.

'Start with what you can control. You start there. Because thinking about changing your workplace and changing the way the world thinks – that's big; that's daunting. And then you shrink from that. So start with what you can control. And that's you, first. And those questions start within. First, we must ask ourselves, "Are we using our voices? And when are we not? When are we playing it safe?" And at least be cognisant of that and understand, "These are the times that I shrunk away from doing more than I could, and let me think about why that was."'

Gina Martin On Misogyny, The Power Of Anger And How She Changed The Law

As she tells us in this refreshing TEDx talk from 2020, Gina Martin is not the kind of woman you'd expect to change the law. And yet, she did. The activist discusses the moment in 2017 when a stranger took a picture of her crotch at a festival without her consent – and how, after years of relentless campaigning, she succeeded in making upskirting a criminal offence. Martin makes it clear that anyone can make a change, no matter who they are or where they're from. And that's a lesson we all need to hear.

'Anger is a very normal response to having your human rights compromised. That's important to say. We have to stop using it to delegitimise people, with "angry feminist" or "angry Black woman" – all of these stereotypes. People are allowed to be angry about this stuff. And we have to hold space for them there. We have to realise it's not about us.

'Think about where you hold privilege – it might be in your job, as a parent, as a teacher, or just in the colour of your skin – and start this work now. Stop laughing at the jokes, buy the book, go to the event, diversify your social feeds, ask the questions. Sympathy is soothing, but it doesn't go far enough. Action does. And listen, you'll get things wrong. We all do, I've had some clangers. But it's not about perfection, it's about progress, it's about doing it because it's the right thing to do. We are so done with waiting for society to "change things" for us. We literally are society.'

Lady Gaga On Reclaiming Your Power

When Lady Gaga accepted her ELLE Women In Hollywood award in 2018, her career appeared to be at an all-time high, with Oscar buzz for her role in A Star Is Born , and her song 'Shallow' at number one in the US. But, as she explained, what people perceive a woman, especially in Hollywood, isn't always the reality.

Gaga may have made this moving speech several years ago, but it feels particularly poignant to revisit it during a period in which violence towards women is a more devastating and pressing topic than ever. In it, Gaga recounts how being sexually assaulted caused her to 'shut down' and 'hide'. She explores the debilitating effect of shame on her mental health and also the power of kindness and support in overcoming it.

Importantly, Gaga explains that she eventually found her power within herself – and how, once she took it back, she was able to use it to move beyond the prescribed expectations society puts upon women.

'What does it really mean to be a woman in Hollywood? We are not just objects to entertain the world. We are not simply images to bring smiles or grimaces to people's faces. We are not members of a giant beauty pageant meant to be pit against one another for the pleasure of the public. We women in Hollywood, we are voices. We have deep thoughts and ideas and beliefs and values about the world and we have the power to speak and be heard and fight back when we are silenced.'

'I decided today I wanted to take the power back. Today I wear the pants... I had a revelation that I had to be empowered to be myself today more than ever. To resist the standards of Hollywood, whatever that means. To resist the standards of dressing to impress. To use what really matters: my voice.'

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie On Redefining Feminism

You may not have knowingly heard to author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's speech before, but there's a good chance you will have listened to her words without realising – Beyoncé actually weaved a key part of Adichie's feminist manifesto into her track '***Flawless'. In her speech, Adichie reflects on the gender disparities still evident our society, with a focus on those in her native Africa, and dissects the meaning of 'feminist' – both the connotations and myths it carries – and how she came to define the term for herself.

'We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller, we say to girls, "You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful, otherwise you would threaten the man." ...But what if we question the premise itself? Why should a woman's success be a threat to a man?

'I want to be respected in all of my femaleness because I deserve to be. Gender is not an easy conversation to have. For both men and women, to bring up gender is sometimes to encounter almost immediate resistance... Some of the men here might be thinking, "OK, all of this is interesting, but I don't think like that." And that is part of the problem – that many men do not actively think about gender or notice gender is part of the problem.'

Kamala Harris On Setting A New Standard For The Next Generation

On November 7 2020, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris delivered her first national address after Joe Biden 's position as President was secured. As the first woman to hold the position and the first person of colour to do so, Harris' presence alone was enough to break boundaries. But then came her words. In the speech, she reflected on triumph of democracy and credited the work of the women who came before us, plus that of 'a new generation of women in... who cast their ballots and continued the fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard'.

'While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last, because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. And to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they've never seen it before, but know that we will applaud you every step of the way.'

Amanda Gorman On Finding Your Voice

If you didn't know Amanda Gorman before this year, you'll definitely know her now, thanks to her reading at US President Joe Biden's swearing-in ceremony. The United States' first-ever youth poet laureate's powerful, rhythmic poem 'The Hill We Climb' made the world stop and listen, highlighting the many inequalities in our society and reminding us that we need to work together to overcome them.

While 2021 was the year that catapulted Gorman into the spotlight, it wasn't the first time she'd spoken out about the world around her. In her 2018 TED Talk, she discusses the power of speech, learning to find her voice and how 'poetry is actually at the centre of our most political questions about what it means to be a democracy'.

'I had a moment of realisation, where I thought, "If I choose not to speak out of fear, then there's no one that my silence is standing for."'

'When someone asks me to write a poem that's not political, what they're really asking me is to not ask charged and challenging questions in my poetic work. And that does not work, because poetry is always at the pulse of the most dangerous and most daring questions that a nation or a world might face.'

'If I choose, not out of fear, but out of courage, to speak, then there's something unique that my words can become... It might feel like every story has been told before, but the truth is, no one's ever told my story in the way I would tell it.'

Frances McDormand Demands Inclusion In Hollywood

It's one thing to make a great acceptance speech at the Oscars. But to share that honour with your fellow nominees and use it as a platform to highlight where your industry needs to do better? That's a whole other story, and one told by McDormand in a speech that got everybody on their feet as she accepted the Oscar for Best Actress at the 2018 Academy Awards.

'I want to get some perspective. If I may be so honoured to have all the female nominees in every category stand with me in this room tonight, the actors... the filmmakers, the producers, the directors, the writers, the cinematographers, the composers, the songwriters, the designers... We all have stories to tell and projects we need financed. Don't talk to us about it at the parties tonight. Invite us into your office in a couple days, or you can come to ours, whatever suits you best, and we'll tell you all about them. I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: "inclusion rider".'

Meghan Markle On Realising The Magnitude Of Individual Action

Long before she made headlines as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle had already made the world take notice. At the UN Women Conference back in 2015, she spoke about 'accidentally' becoming a female advocate when at just 11 years old, when she convinced a dish soap company to change their sexist tagline from 'Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans' to 'People all over America…' instead. Here, she discusses the power of individual action, and why we need to remind women that 'their involvement matters'.

'It is just imperative: women need a seat at the table, they need an invitation to be seated there, and in some cases, where this is not available, well then, you know what, they need to create their own table. We need a global understanding that we cannot implement change effectively without women's political participation.

'It is said that girls with dreams become women with vision. May we empower each other to carry out such vision – because it isn't enough to simply talk about equality. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to simply believe in it. One must work at it. Let us work at it. Together. Starting now.

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The Greatest Speeches Given by Women, for Women

Because words have the power to evoke emotions and transform the course of history

Speeches throughout history, and the careful articulation of words have the power to evoke emotional responses. They have the power to transform arguments into persuasive messages that compel listeners to take action.

And that's what these inspirational women have done. So as we celebrate International Women's Day, we've rounded up the most inspirational speeches that have shifted the course of history for women for the better.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1850 – 1982)

Writer and women’s rights activist, “our girls” , 1880.

“The coming girl is to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. She is to hold an equal place with her brother in the world of work, in the colleges, in the state, the church and the home. Her sphere is to be no longer bounded by the prejudices of a dead past, but by her capacity to go wherever she can stand. The coming girl is to be an independent, self-supporting being, not as to-day a helpless victim of fashion, superstition, and absurd conventionalisms.”

Emmeline Pankhurst  (1858 - 1928)

Women's rights activist and leading suffragette, freedom of death, 1913.

“I am here as a soldier who has temporarily left the field of battle in order to explain - it seems strange it should have to be explained - what civil war is like when civil war is waged by women. I am not only here as a soldier temporarily absent from the field at battle; I am here - and that, I think, is the strangest part of my coming - I am here as a person who, according to the law courts of my country, it has been decided, is of no value to the community at all; and I am adjudged because of my life to be a dangerous person, under sentence of penal servitude in a convict prison…If we win it, this hardest of all fights, then, to be sure in the future it is going to be made easier for women all over the world to win their fight when their time comes.”

Margaret Sanger (1879 – 1966)

Women’s rights activist and social reformer, the morality of birth control, 1921.

“We ask the church to have more confidence in women. We ask the opponents of this movement to reverse the methods of the church, which aims to keep women moral by keeping them in fear and in ignorance, and to inculcate into them a higher and truer morality based upon knowledge. And ours is the morality of knowledge. If we cannot trust woman with the knowledge of her own body, then I claim that two thousand years of Christian teaching has proved to be a failure.

“We stand on the principle that birth control should be available to every adult man and woman. We believe that every adult man and woman should be taught the responsibility and the right use of knowledge. We claim that woman should have the right over her own body and to say if she shall or if she shall not be a mother, as she sees fit. We further claim that the first right of a child is to be desired. While the second right is that it should be conceived in love, and the third, that it should have a heritage of sound health.”

Bell Hooks (1952 – 2021)

Author and social activist, feminism is for everybody, 2000.

“Imagine living in a world where there is no domination, where females and males are not alike or even always equal, but where a vision of mutuality is the ethos shaping our interaction. Imagine living in a world where we can all be who we are, a world of peace and possibility. Feminist revolution alone will not create such a world; we need to end racism, class elitism, imperialism. But it will make it possible for us to be fully self-actualized females and males able to create beloved community, to live together, realizing our dreams of freedom and justice, living the truth that we are all “created equal.” Come closer. See how feminism can touch and change your life and all our lives. Come closer and know first-hand what feminist movement is all about. Come closer and you will see: feminism is for everybody.”

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883) 

Women’s and civil rights activist, ain’t i a woman 1851.

“That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?”

Queen Elizabeth II (1953 – 1603)

Queen of england, on the spanish armada, 1958.

'I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.'

Malala Yousafzai (1997 – )

Female education activist, nobel lecture, 2017.

“We wanted to make our parents proud and prove that we could also excel in our studies and achieve those goals, which some people think only boys can.But things did not remain the same. When I was in Swat, which was a place of tourism and beauty, suddenly changed into a place of terrorism. I was just ten that more than 400 schools were destroyed. Women were flogged. People were killed. And our beautiful dreams turned into nightmares.

“Education went from being a right to being a crime. Girls were stopped from going to school. When my world suddenly changed, my priorities changed too. I had two options. One was to remain silent and wait to be killed. And the second was to speak up and then be killed. I chose the second one. I decided to speak up.”

Emma Watson (1990 – )

Actor, feminist and humanitarian, heforshe launch campaign, 2014.

“We don’t often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes but I can see that that they are and that when they are free, things will change for women as a natural consequence. If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled.

“Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong…It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideals.If we stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by what we are—we can all be freer and this is what HeForShe is about. It’s about freedom.

“I want men to take up this mantle. So their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too – reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned and in doing so be a more true and complete version of themselves.”

Sylvia Rivera (1951 - 2002)

Lgbtq activist, y’all better quiet down, 1973.

“Y’all better quiet down. I’ve been trying to get up here all day for your gay brothers and your gay sisters in jail. Have you ever been beaten up and raped and jailed? Now think about it. They’ve been beaten up and raped…. The women have tried to fight for their sex changes or to become women…. they do not write women, they do not write men, they write ‘STAR’ because we’re trying to do something for them.

“I have been to jail. I have been raped. And beaten. Many times! By men, heterosexual men that do not belong in the homosexual shelter. But do you do anything for me? No. You tell me to go and hide my tail between my legs. I will not put up with this shit. I have been beaten. I have had my nose broken. I have been thrown in jail. I have lost my job. I have lost my apartment for gay liberation and you all treat me this way?”

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Matron of Honor Toasts

Amy has a B.A. in Communications and has worked in a wide variety of industries.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

The Matron of Honor is expected to give a toast to the happy couple. This special honor is reserved for the bride's close friend. The Matron of Honor may appreciate a few tips in crafting a toast that's straight from the heart.

Let Your Matronly Experience Show

As a married woman, you know what it is like to be dating, engaged, and a newlywed. You have all ready "been there, done that" in the world of weddings. Use your experience to create a wedding toast that is unique to your position. After all, there is a reason your friend (or sister or relative) chose you to be her right-hand woman-you have the knowledge, passion, and love for the bride like no one else. Add in your experience as a past bride and newlywed, and you have everything a bride could need in her best woman.

• Maid of Honor Speech Examples for the Sister of the Bride
• Wedding Toast Examples for a Speech They'll Remember

Writing matron of honor toasts is often the same as writing a maid of honor speech . You want to touch on your friendship with the bride, the couple's relationship, and wish them best for the future. However, add a little extra into your speech by drawing on your experience as a married woman. Do this one of two ways:

• Give heartfelt advice for their future marriage.
• Create a funny speech that touches on silly things throughout the first year of wedded bliss.

Although many people can give advice on the above without being married, you will bring an extra special touch to the toast if you focus on things in your unique experience.

Future Advice

Because you are friends with the bride and the groom, you can give them personalized advice from the point of a matron of honor. They will feel especially touched if you incorporate advice they know you personally have followed through upon. Personalized stories relating to the couple's relationship and how it will result in a happy future by following your advice is a good way to write this into your speech.

Try to avoid using clichés and instead focus your advice on practical matters or matters of the heart, depending on how sentimental you want to be. Meaningful quotations are excellent additions into your toast.

Funny Speech

If you enjoy a friendly banter with the couple, write a speech that will leave guests in an uproar. Write a hilarious speech riddled with jokes that focuses on all the surprises the couple is in for as newlyweds. Draw upon your own newlywed experience to help illustrate each point (but make the observations general-after all, the speech is about the couple, not you!). Another way of writing funny matron of honor toasts is to take clichés about married life and tell how each part of the couple will break that cliché somehow. For example, you might say:

Everyone always told me never to go to bed angry. Sara and Ben, I'm passing that advice onto you. Only we all know you won't follow it-after all, when you work opposite shifts, you're lucky to make it into bed together at all (wink, wink!).

With funny speeches, be sure to make it audience appropriate. The above suggestion might be fine with some couples and not others. Knowing your audience is a big part of speech writing.

Check in With the Maids

Many brides-to-be choose a maid of honor and a matron of honor. In these cases, it is a good idea to collaborate with the maid in order to write interesting and unique toasts. You certainly do not want to have similar quotations or anecdotes in your speeches.

If you are close to the maid of honor, consider writing a joint speech. Two heads may really be better than one when it comes to making public toasts. Bounce ideas off one another and practice frequently so you get the rhythm of the speech down.

Regardless of whether you are the only best woman or not, it is a good idea to check in and see what the other bridesmaids think of your speech. They are all close to the bride and know her and the groom in different ways, making them perfect sounding boards for your ideas.

Final Tips for Matron of Honor Toasts

Writing a matron of honor wedding toast can be challenging, even for the best of friends and knowledgeable writers. Start writing the wedding speech several weeks in advance, giving you plenty of time to polish the final version.Other tips include:

• Keep the speech to around four or five minutes, tops.
• Practice in front of friends and the mirror.
• Use a notecard with an outline instead of reading verbatim from a typed page.
• Speak slowly and clearly, with enough volume for the whole room to hear easily.
• Remember to raise your glass in a toast to the couple at the very end of the speech.

If you are still having trouble writing a speech, do an internet search to find help. Many websites offer free wedding speeches or free wedding toasts you can personalize. Others, like Speeches.com , offer a free trial membership for building a speech based upon some personal information you enter.

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The 7 best speeches by women and what makes them great

Josh Storie

Image credit: Cotidiano Mujer

Any time is always a great time to honor the achievements and historical contributions of women. And as a woman-founded company , Women’s History Month is an especially great time to reflect on the ways women have contributed to history through the power of their words.

At Duarte, we’re big believers that words have power. They can offer hope, inspire change, and move audiences to action. So, in honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting and analyzing 7 of the best speeches by women, along with a bit of insight into what made their speeches … great speeches.

1. Nancy Duarte, “The Secret Structure of Great Talks”

Most people don’t struggle with what to say, they struggle with how to say it. That’s what makes our very own Nancy Duarte’s 2011 Ted Talk so impactful.

In “The Secret Structure of Great Talks,” Nancy’s speech brilliantly lays out the idea that presentations have a shape, just like music. And after years of research and analysis, she has found that the shape proven to move audiences is called a Presentation Sparkline™.

In her speech, she illustrates the power of the Sparkline by laying it over Steve Jobs 2007 iPhone launch and Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech. You quickly see that they both follow a rhythmic rise and fall that paints a picture of a current reality followed by a vision of “What could be.” The presentation then ends in what Duarte refers to as “The new bliss” – a description of what the future could look like should the audience adopt the idea being presented.

More than a decade later, “The Secret Structure of Great Talks” still inspires people, and its structure is used by Duarte to help companies and individuals communicate ideas with clarity all over the world.

“The truth about presenting: It’s about them, not about you. It’s about their change, not about yours.” – Nancy Duarte, “The Secret Structure of Great Talks”

2. Brene Brown, “The Power of Vulnerability”

With over 64M views, the great speech “The Power of Vulnerability” is one of the most viewed Ted Talks of all time. And for good reason.

In “The Power of Vulnerability,” Brown breaks down her years of research on shame, challenging the conventional beliefs about vulnerability. She explains that vulnerability is not a sign of weakness (as we tend to believe), but a sign of strength. While we often believe that people wouldn’t love us if they truly knew us, Brown explains the opposite – that vulnerability is the key to human connection, not the obstacle to it.

Shortly after Brown’s Ted Talk was released, a new cultural conversation emerged around vulnerability. From interpersonal relationship dynamics to architecting a healthy corporate culture, there is a much higher emphasis placed on embracing vulnerability.

“Vulnerability is not weakness. It’s our greatest measure of courage.” – Brene Brown, “The Power of Vulnerability”

3. Malala Yousafzai, United Nations Youth Assembly Address

On October 9, 2012, Malala Yousafzai, a young activist known for promoting girls’ education in Pakistan, was shot in the head by a member of the Taliban as she walked home from school. Less than a year later, she boldly stood before the United Nations Youth Assembly and gave a historic speech that advocated for the education of women as a fundamental human right.

Following her speech, Yousafzai became a symbol of courage and hope for millions of people, eventually receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. This definitely makes it one of the best speeches by women!

“Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai, United Nations Youth Assembly Address  

4. Emma Watson, UN Women’s HeForShe Launch

On September 20, 2014, Emma Watson was invited to the UN to help launch the HeForShe campaign – a movement for gender equality initiated by UN Women, designed to engage and encourage men as advocates.

One of the things that sets her speech apart is her active invitation to men to step into a space historically reserved for women. In other words, instead of calling women to step up and fight for their rights, Watson makes a passionate plea for men to join as partners, to know that they are wanted, needed, and invited into the fight for gender equality.

As the HeForShe campaign has grown in scope and influence, her address is credited with changing the conversation around the involvement of men in fighting for gender equality.

“I want men to take up this mantle, so that their daughters, sisters, and mothers can be free from prejudice. But also, so their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too … I am inviting you to step forward, to be seen, and to ask yourself: If not me, who? If not now, when?” – Emma Watson, UN Women’s HeForShe Launch

5. Sojourner Truth, “Ain’t I A Woman?”

“Ain’t I A Woman?” is considered one of the most important speeches in both the abolitionist and women’s rights movements.

After escaping slavery, Sojourner Truth was invited to speak at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, on May 29, 1851, where she passionately and eloquently called out the inferior treatment of women, and of black women especially. Another historic speech that makes it one of the best speeches by women.

Her words resonated with audiences and became a rallying cry for the women’s rights movement. Over 170 years later, her words continue to inspire those fighting against injustice.

“That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman?” – Sojourner Truth, Women’s Rights Convention

6. Sheryl Sandberg, “Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders”

In her 2010 Ted Talk at the TEDWomen conference, Sheryl Sandberg awakens the audience to the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles. But she doesn’t just highlight the disparity, she offers an inspiring call to action through the concept of “leaning in,” defined as embracing a challenge, taking a risk, and pursuing ambitions with confidence.

Sandberg argues in her iconic speech that women often hold themselves back from leadership opportunities due to internalized stereotypes, societal expectations, and self-doubt. But she encourages women to advocate for themselves, seek out mentors, and support one another in their professional endeavors. Additionally, Sandberg calls on men to use their positions of influence to promote gender equality in the workplace.

The talk has helped to raise awareness about the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership and has catalyzed efforts to create more equitable workplaces.

“So please ask yourself: What would I do if I weren’t afraid? And then go do it.” – Sheryl Sandberg, “Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders”

7. Susan B. Anthony, “On Women’s Right to Vote”

Susan B. Anthony delivered her historic speech “On Women’s Right to Vote” at numerous venues during the latter years of the 19th century. She passionately argued that women were entitled to the same political rights as men, highlighing both the injustice and the hypocrisy of denying women the right to vote while simultaneously subjecting them to taxation and other civic responsibilities.

Anthony emphasized that women were actively contributing to the betterment of society and thus fully capable of participating in the democratic process. She rejected any argument that women were intellectually or morally inferior to men, emphasizing that such beliefs were rooted in prejudice and ignorance.

While she faced opposition, her eloquence and commitment to the cause laid the groundwork for the eventual passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, which granted women the right to vote. Another great speech!

“It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; no r yet we, the male citizens; but we, the whole people, who formed the Union.” – Susan B. Anthony, “On Women’s Right To Vote ”

Ready to make your own great speech?

Whether you’re presenting a keynote to thousands , a pitch to a boardroom, or your research to a classroom, mastering the art of public speaking doesn’t have to be intimidating. It’s a skill that can be learned.

And while communication skills are historically some of the hardest to find great and transformative trainings on, you don’t need to look any further than Duarte. We’ve been training professionals to become better communicators for over 35 years now, and at some of the highest stakes moments for some of the biggest brands in the world.

See how we can help you take the stage with confidence today!

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Top 4 Speech On Women’s Empowerment [1-5 Min]

Women empowerment is the process to empower women with their assigned rights and proper place in society. As a part of God’s creation, women have the similar right to live their life freely as anyone on the planet.

What to discuss in the speech on Women’s Empowerment?

Before presenting a speech on women’s empowerment, we need to understand some very essential points related to women and their empowerment. So, What are the points to be covered in the speech? Here is a list of points to keep in mind:

• What is women’s empowerment? (Definition)
• What are women deprived of? (Women’s Rights)
• The present scenario in the Country & World. (Statistics)
• Why is women’s empowerment needed? (Strong Reasons)
• How do we empower women? (Powerful Ways)
• What are the advantages of Women’s Empowerment? (Reasonable Effects)

1 Minute Speech Example

Good Morning to all the people present here. I am here today to deliver a speech on women’s empowerment. Let me start this speech by thanking you all.

Men and women hold equal weight to maintain a society. Both are supplementary to each other but women are deprived of some rights like education, decision-making, doing a job or business etc.

Furthermore, in countries like India, Women are victims of domestic violence and abusive marriages. Most noteworthy, people prefer a son to a daughter. This discrimination against women is very pathetic & needs to be removed as soon as possible.

In some developed countries, women and girls are self-dependent and they can make their own decisions and also can take their own responsibility. Hence, they contribute to the prosperity of the nation too.

Everyone has a different strength. understanding this concept, we should include them in every opportunity so that they can give their best for the community, society, and country.

Thank you again for having me a chance to share my thought on women’s empowerment.

2 Minute Speech Example

Hello, all of you present here.

First of all, I want to wish you all the best wishes for the day and also want to thank you for having me this great opportunity to share my thoughts on a very sensitive topic- “women empowerment”.

So, Imagine the electricity having only a positive charge or only a negative. Could it be possible? The short answer is No. It means both the charge together is only useful or they are equally important. The same goes for human society, Men and women are equally significant. Remove one of these from society, where is society?

Unfortunately, Women get little or no appreciation despite being talented. In male-dominated societies, women are treated as non-existent. They are deprived of some rights like education, decision-making, doing a job or business etc.

If we look at history, we will notice that women have set an example in different fields. But if we observe present conditions, we will discover that women have several limitations on them. Women empowerment is the process of retrieving their proper rights and giving them their proper place and recognition in the society.

In countries like India, Women are victims of domestic violence and abusive marriage. This discrimination against women is very pathetic & needs to be removed as soon as possible. Most noteworthy, people prefer a son to a daughter.

In some developed countries, women and girls are self-dependent and they can make their own decisions and also can take their own responsibility. And they contribute to the prosperity of the nation too.

3 Minute Speech On Women’s Empowerment

As a part of God’s creation, women must get the same rights to live their life freely as anyone on the planet. But since ancient times they are being maltreated and deprived of their rights.

Women empowerment is the process of retrieving their true rights and giving them their proper place and recognition in society.

The very primary problem that women have to face is Gender inequality . In some countries, men and women are treated equally. But still, there are a lot of countries where women are treated uniquely than men. Despite a lot of efforts, our country falls into the second bucket.

Domestic violence and discrimination against women is the second main problem. In rural areas, women are still being abused and beaten by their husbands. Men treat them like their property. Women have usually less access to education, employment, ownership, and many other things. Moreover, They are not allowed to pursue a professional life.

If we talk about the advantages of women’s empowerment, Empowered women are a success key for a family, a society, and also for a country. Educated women can shape their family’s future by giving the right guidance to their children.

Women have the right to vote according to their understanding. So ultimately they can also shape our country’s political structure. They are not intellectually unfit. They also can make healthy decisions like men.

We should take part in supporting women and girls in our society. We can enable them for almost every field that she is prevented from. Women’s education should be made compulsory so that women can become illiterate enough to live their life to full.

There is a lot to say but time is a limited resource & we should respect it. At last, I want to thank you all again for having me this valuable opportunity.

5 Minute Speech On Women’s Empowerment

Good Morning to all the people present here. Special regards to the principal, teachers & friends. I am here today to deliver a speech on women’s empowerment. Let me start this speech by thanking you all for honouring me with this valuable opportunity.

Someone has correctly said, “A woman is like a tea bag—you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” We should include them in every opportunity so that they can give their best for the community, society, and country.

If we look at history, we will notice that women have set an example in different fields. But if we observe present conditions, we will discover that women have several limitations on them. Women empowerment is the process of retrieving their true rights and giving them their proper place and recognition in society.

This is unfortunate that women get little or no appreciation despite being talented. In male-dominated societies, women are treated as non-existent. They are still not allowed to pursue higher education and professional life. They can’t contribute to decision-making for their family.

As human beings, they also hold a similar weight as men. So it is a wake-up call for us to empower women. They should not be maltreated anymore. Women’s empowerment is like a ray of hope for women to bring them to the place to which they are entitled. It will strengthen their willpower.

In our country, women’s empowerment is an issue of conversation only. In other countries, women and girls are self-dependent and they can make their own decisions and also can take responsibility. And this is a reason for those countries to fall into the bucket of developed ones.

Women can contribute to assisting the country as they are the ones who understand the meaning of responsibility. They perform well in almost every aspect of life. Our country is among those which are less secure for females. There is a need for women’s empowerment so that they can take a stand for their rights.

There are a lot of methods to empower women. We should take part in encouraging women and girls in our society. We can allow them for almost every field that she is prevented from. Women’s education should be made necessary so that women can become literate enough to live their life to full.

Child marriage must be prevented and a huge punishment should be inflicted if someone is found involved in it. The government should spread awareness about this among people and encourage them to behave well with their daughters. Girls and women must get provided with free training on how to defend themselves and face problems boldly.

In final words, I want to say that women’s empowerment is a required demand for a better future for the country and to portray the best picture. We don’t have to do much but bring back their proper place. Having a lot of initiatives, our country is still lacking behind in women’s empowerment. We all can make it possible by taking part in encouraging and supporting our girls and women.

Other Speeches To Explore

Importance of time management speech [1,2,3 minutes], speech on ethics and etiquette [1,2,3 minutes], speech about mahatma gandhi jayanti 2023.

• 1 Minute Speech On Health Is Wealth
• 2 Minute Speech On Child Labour
• 1 Minute Speech On Child Labour
• Speech On Nature [ 1-2 minutes ]
• 2 Minute Speech on Importance Of Education
• 1 Minute Speech on Pollution
• 2 Minute Speech on Population Explosion

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• Feminist persuasive speech topics

108 feminist persuasive speech topics

- the top current women's rights & feminist issues.

By:  Susan Dugdale  

There are 108 persuasive speech topics here covering many current feminist issues. For example:

• that copy-cat fast fashion reinforces the relentless consumer cycle and the poverty trap,
• that the advertising industry deliberately manufactures and supports body image insecurities to serve its own ends,
• that gendered language reinforces the patriarchal structure of society...

They're provocative and challenging topics raising issues that I like to think should be of concern to us all! 

Use the quick links to find a topic you want to explore

• 25 feminist persuasive speech topics about beauty and fashion
• 16 the media and feminism topics
• 8 the role of language and feminism speech ideas

8 feminist speech ideas about culture and arts

9 topics on education and gendered expectations, 27 feminist topics about society & social inequality, 8 business & work related feminist speech topics.

• Resources for preparing persuasive speeches
• References for feminism

What is 'feminism'?

Feminism is defined as belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes, expressed especially through organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests.

(See: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feminism )

Return to Top

25 feminist speech topics about beauty & fashion

• that from puberty onward a woman is targeted by cosmetic companies
• that the shape of woman’s body is valued over its health
• that physical beauty in a woman is conferred by popular beliefs
• that striving for what is regarded as the epitome of female physical perfection destroys women
• that physical perfection is a myth
• that compassion and collaboration is needed between women (and men) rather than competition and comparison
• that beauty, fashion and feminism can co-exist
• that clothing reflects social position or class
• that the fashionable clothing of any era reflects its dominate cultural beliefs
• that a modern feminist does not need to ban either the bra or the razor
•  that prescriptive beauty norms (PBNs) reinforce sexism, racism, colorism, classism, ableism, ageism, and gender norms
• that western feminine beauty standards dominate globally
• that there is no legitimate historical or biological justification for the ‘white’ beauty myth
• that modern beauty standards were used as “political weapons" against women’s advancement (see Naomi Wolfe - The Beauty Myth )
• that the beauty industry cynically and callously exploits women through “self-empowerment” campaigns – eg L'Oreal's  “Because you're worth it”
• that beauty shaming of any sort is shameful
• that health and beauty need to work together for the empowerment of women
• that beauty and fashion role models need to be independent of major brands
• that fashion and cosmetic industries have a moral responsibility to use the immense power they have in shaping people’s lives for their betterment
• that the unfair balance of power between the consumers of fashionable clothing and those who make it is a feminist issue
• that copy-cat fast fashion reinforces the relentless consumer cycle and the poverty trap
• that genuinely sustainable fashion is only responsible way forward
• that clothing/fashion can make a feminist statement. For example: the 1850s “freedom” or “bloomer” dress named after women’s rights and temperance advocate Amelia Bloomer , the wearing of trousers, shorts, or mini skirts by women, or skirts and dresses by men
• that boss dressing for women is unnecessary and toxic
• that establishing superiority through wearing elitist fashion is an age old ploy

16 the media and feminism speech topics

• that feminism in mainstream media is often misrepresented through lack of understanding
• that some media deliberately encourages a narrow polarizing definition of feminism to whip up interest and drama for its own sake
• that mainstream media plays a significant role in keeping women marginalized
• that social media has created an independent level playing field for feminists globally
• that the #metoo movement reaffirmed the need for community and solidarity amongst feminists
• that the advertising industry deliberately manufactures and supports ongoing body image insecurities to serve its own ends
• that the advertising industry decides and deifies what physical perfection looks like
• that the ideal cover girl body/face is a myth
• that eating disorders and negative body image problems are increased by the unrealistic beauty standards set by mainstream media
• that women get media coverage for doing newsworthy things and being beautiful. Men get media coverage for doing newsworthy things.
• that social media gives traditionally private issues a platform for discussion and change: abortion, domestic abuse, pay equity
• that print media (broadsheets, magazines, newspapers...) have played and continue to play a vital role in feminist education
• that ‘the women’s hour’ and similar radio programs or podcasts have been and are an important part in highlighting feminist issues
• that ‘feminist wokeness’ has been hijacked by popular media
• that social media reinforces prejudices rather than challenges them because the smart use of analytics means we mainly see posts aligned with our viewpoints
• that social media has enabled and ‘normalized’ the spread of pornography: the use of bodies as a commodity to be traded

8 the role language and feminism speech ideas

• that frequently repeated platitudes (eg. girls will be girls and boys will be boys) are stereotypical straitjackets stifling change
• that the derogatory words for females and female genitalia frequently used to vent anger or frustration demonstrate the worth and value placed on women
• that feminism is neither male nor female
• that gendered language reinforces the patriarchal structure of society
• that sexist language needs to be called out and changed
• that gendered language limits women’s opportunities
• that gendered languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi...) need to become more inclusive
• that the real enemy of feminism is language
• that limitations in any arena (work, sports, arts) placed on woman because they are women need challenging
• that male bias in the organizations awarding major awards and grants needs to change
• that the ideal woman in art is a figment of a male imagination
• that historically art has objectified women
• that heroic figures should be celebrated and honored for their deeds – not for what they look like or their gender
• that strong feisty female characters in literature can inspire change eg. Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre from Charlotte Bronte’s novel of the same name, and Offred from Margaret Atwood’s The Hand Maiden’s Tale.
• that the role of feminist art in any field: literature, film, theatre, dance, sculpture..., is to transform and challenge stereotypes. Examples of feminist artists: Judy Chicago, Miriam Shapiro, Barbara Kruger (More: feminist art ) 
• that feminist musicians have used their influence as agents of change, and to inspire: Beyonce, Queen Latifah, Pussy Riot, Lorde, Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Nina Simone
• that there no subjects more suitable for boys than girls, or subjects more suitable for girls than boys
• that toys, clothing, and colors should be gender neutral
• that student achievement and behavioral expectations should be gender free
• that feminism should be actively modelled in the classroom
• that eligibility for educational institutions should be merit based  
• that boys should not ‘punished’ or blamed for our patriarchal history
• that gendered performance is actively supported and encouraged by some educational philosophies and schools in order to maintain the status quo
• that the belief that ‘male’ and ‘female’ intelligence are different and that male intelligence is superior is false
• that education is vital for the advancement of black feminism
• that rigidly adhered to gendered workplace and domestic roles sustain and support inequalities
• that domestic violence is typically a male gendered crime
• that patriarchal attitudes toward women make sexual harassment and rape inevitable
• that a safe legal abortion is a fundamental right for every person who wants one
• that humiliation and control either by fear and threat of rape, or rape itself, is an act toxic entitlement
• that a person is never ever ‘asking for it’: to be sexually harassed, or to be raped
• that safe methods of birth control should be freely available to whomever wants them
• that full sexual and reproductive health and rights for all people is an essential precondition to achieving gender equality
• that men should not have control over woman's sexual and reproductive decision-making
• that the increase in sperm donation is a feminist victory
• that a person can be a domestic goddess and a feminist
• that there is a positive difference between assertive and aggressive feminism
• that the shock tactics of feminist anarchists is justified
• that powerful feminist role models open the way for others to follow
• that intersectional feminism is essential to fully understand the deep ingrained inequalities of those experiencing overlapping forms of oppression
• that a feminist’s belief and practices are shaped by the country they live in, its dominant religious and cultural practices
• that female circumcision is an example of women’s oppression disguised as a cultural tradition
• that honor crimes are never justifiable
• that period poverty and stigma is a global feminist issue
• that we need to accept that some women want to remain protected by patriarchal practices and beliefs
• that environmental issues are feminist issues
• that everybody benefits from feminism
• that feminism works towards equality, not female superiority
• that anti-feminist myths (that feminists are angry women who blame men for their problems, that feminists are anti marriage, that feminists have no sense of humor, that feminists are not ‘natural’ mothers, that feminists are anti religion, that feminists are actually all lesbians ...) are desperate attempts to maintain the patriarchal status quo
• that toxic femininity is a by-product of fear and insecurity eg. The need to ridicule another woman in order to impress a man, shaming a man for not being ‘manly’, raging against a women for being seen to be powerful, competent and successful in a leadership position ...
• that blaming the patriarchy is far too simple
• that one can hold religious beliefs and be feminist
• that gendered jobs and job titles belong in the past
• that pay scales should be based on merit, not gender
• that adequate maternity and child care plus parental leave provisions should be mandatory
• that flexible working hours benefits both the business and its employees
• that token feminism is not enough
• that corporate feminism is for wealthy white women
• that feminism and capitalism are in conflict
• that women in power owe it to other women to work for their empowerment

Useful resources

The first three resources below provide an excellent starting point to get a broad overview of feminism: its history, development and current issues.

I've included the fourth link because I'm a New Zealander, and proud of what its women's suffrage movement achieved: the vote for women in 1893.  

• What’s the definition of feminism? 12 TED talks that explain it to you
• An overview of feminist philosophy – Stanford University, USA
• Britannica: an excellent over of the history and development of feminism
• The symbolism of a white camellia and the Suffrage Movement in New Zealand

How to choose a good persuasive speech topic and preparing a great speech

For a more in-depth discussion about choosing a good persuasive topic, and crafting a persuasive speech please see:

• persuasive speech ideas and read all the notes under the heading “What make a speech topic good?"
• writing a persuasive speech . You’ll find notes covering:
• setting a speech goal,
• audience analysis,
• evidence and empathy (the need for proof or evidence to back what you’re saying as well as showing you understand, or empathize with, the positions of those for and against your proposal),
• balance and obstacles (to address points against your proposal, the obstacles, in a fair and balanced way),
• varying structural patterns (ways to organize you material) and more. And click this link for hundreds more persuasive speech topic suggestions . ☺

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Wedding Speeches Ultimate Guide: The Good, the Bad and The Ugly

When they are good, they are very, very good, and when they are bad, they’re painful. To help you perfect your gay wedding speech, we chatted to professional speechwriters from …

When they are good, they are very, very good, and when they are bad, they’re painful.

To help you perfect your gay wedding speech, we chatted to professional speechwriters from Great Speech Writing London based company.

They told us two very different gay wedding speech stories, both of which they assisted with; and there are lessons in both…

Wedding Speeches: Speaking Roles

But first, let’s discuss wedding speaking roles as they are important.

Many wedding traditions were enshrined in a very different time. The giving away of the bride, or the absence of female speakers at the reception are reflective of an age where gender roles were less fluid than they are today.

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Until recently, traditions in the UK itself denied same-sex couples equal rights in marriage . In other words, wedding traditions aren’t sacrosanct.

Seb, of Great Speech Writing, shares his thoughts on getting those speeches right.

Lawrence Bernstein from Great Speech Writing, London

Speaking Roles: Traditional and Some Alternatives

Mothers and fathers of the bride/groom.

In the spirit of equality, a common alternative is to ask a parent on each side to give a wedding speech. This has the added benefit of allowing you to choose the parent that will a) enjoy it more, and b) deliver a better speech.

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Another option is to ask your parents to do a joint wedding speech. If they’re on speaking terms, that is. And if that thought doesn’t send shivers down your spine.

Again, this has its own advantages, as often each parent will have a unique take on their child, and asking them to collaborate might make for a wedding speech greater than the sum of its parts.

Having already delivered his father of a bride speech at the wedding of his lesbian daughter some months before, and now tasked with writing another speech in celebration for his daughter and daughter-in-law’s first year anniversary, Martin sought Lawrence’s help.

He felt his speech had been one of those bad wedding speeches, where the focus was all wrong and he hadn’t got across the real message, which should have been one about love.

And this is his story…

Best Man/Best Woman/Maid of Honour

Even the best man speech is rooted in relatively rigid ideas of gender norms: the assumption being that a groom’s best friend is inevitably another man. Yes, it is often the case, but it is by no means a universal.

Quite understandably, many same-sex couples choosing to marry will want to avoid heteronormative traditions.

So in place of the best man/maid of honour, you might consider forgetting gender altogether, and giving (or burdening!) the responsibility to the individual, or individuals, who you feel knows you best.

Ironically, this was once the case. The father of the bride speech was traditionally given by a family member – or friend – with some experience in public speaking.

Ask someone else

Or you could ask someone to speak whose speech you know will be memorable for all the right reasons. It goes without saying that this needn’t be the privilege of only one of your friends or family members – quite the opposite!

Still struggling? Relax…

Equal Marriage is a long-fought and hard won-right, and it’s shown us that traditions which seem entrenched can change with the world around us.

To paraphrase a famous song, it’s your party, and you can do what you want to. This couldn’t be more true of same-sex marriages.

You don’t have to conform to the same traditions as most heterosexual weddings. Rip up the rule book and write your own.

Key Wedding Speech Writing Rules

Start by thinking about the other guests.

Yes, there will be a few people who wanted to get a warts ‘n’ all picture of him, but there will also be large numbers of relatives and family friends.

It is vital to make your humour and approach relevant to them too; a gay wedding doesn’t mean exclusively gay guests!

Work Around Your Friend And What Has Defined Him Over The Years

• What has made him unique?
• What elements would hold together in a speech about him?

In a room with so many gay guests, being gay won’t actually be unique at all.

Consider your friend’s partner.

Rather than thinking about him being a man, think about him as the person who has made your friend so very happy.

As a best man, that’s all that matters: your friend being happier with his partner than without him.

So, when it comes to writing a wedding speech, there really is no difference between a same-sex and different-sex wedding at all, except for the pronouns!

Wedding Speech Tips: Overcoming Public Speaking Nerves

Dry mouth, sweaty palms, butterflies in your stomach; not the typical romantic reactions you would associate with a wedding.

But the thought of standing up to speak in front of a large audience – especially one that consists of the people who know and love you the most in the world – is a terrifying prospect for the majority of us.

Alys Metcalf, specialist coach at Great Speech Writing, shares her seven top tips for overcoming nerves before giving your wedding speech.

Be prepared

Take a leaf out of the Scout’s book for this one: a week or so before your wedding speech, think through all the possibilities of what could go awry and find solutions to prevent the worst.

For example, if you’re worried you might forget your words, have a joke up your sleeve ready to get a few laughs and give you time to get back on track.

By taking the element of chance away, you’ll feel more confident from the get-go.

This cannot be overemphasised: practice really does make perfect. Read your wedding speech aloud several times (perhaps even in front of a friend who can give you some pointers) so that you’re familiar with the material.

If you feel secure with what you’re saying, the words will flow more naturally and you’ll be far less nervous on the day.

Visualise the speech

Positive visualisations can help you bring the speech of your dreams into reality. Have a clear picture in your mind of how you want to deliver your wedding speech.

• What hand gestures are you using?
• How often are you pausing?
• How do you feel when you’ve finished the speech?

Imagine yourself being confident and you’ll slowly start to feel it too.

Drink lots (of water!)

Drinking water before you get up to speak will ensure you don’t get a dry throat. Have a glass of water nearby to you during the wedding speech, in case you need to take a sip.

At all costs, do not get drunk beforehand! It may feel like the easy way to get through it, but it won’t seem so sensible afterwards.

Focus on your breathing

While you’re readying yourself to speak, take a few deep breaths (in and out, in and out).

Focus on being in control of your breathing; seeming out of breath during your wedding speech will immediately signal to the audience that you’re nervous.

Instead, breathing steadily will make you appear completely confident and you’ll be able to enjoy the speech much more.

Manage the shakes

Paste your wedding speech onto a card and rest it somewhere you can see it.

Holding a shaky piece of paper will put you off and you’ll spend more time worrying about whether the audience can see your shaky hands than you will focus on delivering a brilliant speech.

Connect with your audience

The common advice when it comes to public speaking nerves is to picture your audience naked. Instead, keep reminding yourself that the audience is on your side.

They don’t want to see you fail, they are there to celebrate the happiest day of your life.

Make eye contact with them and smile. You’ll instantly feel more relaxed when you see them smiling back at you.

Nail Your Wedding Speech During The Lockdown

Yes, you read that right! Stuck at home, wedding on hold, tailor working from home, caterers not picking-up. It’s not quite how you planned it, but in a crisis, there is always an opportunity to be grasped.

In this case, you have time on your hands. You have a computer, an imagination and a few ideas.

So why not get cracking with the wedding speech?

Yes, you probably imagined winging it. A few scribbled notes at the last minute. A thank you or two and a sweet toast. If you’re the best man or woman you’ll possibly have a joke or two up your sleeve.

But now just pause for a second. And let’s face it, there’s not much else to do.

Imagine that you’ve just given your wedding speech (whenever that might be). And rather than a relieved round of applause, you are met with a prolonged standing ovation. Guests crowd around congratulating you on the best wedding speech they’ve ever heard (at a gay or straight reception).

Years down the line you bump into old friends who still refer to your oratory magic. Well, it’s not as hard as you might think. It just needs time, focus, and a lot of rehearsing.

Here are six tips to get you started:

Be Original: Use This Extra Downtime To Think Outside The Box

How can you turn your stories or thoughts on their head?

Can you draw together a theme that may come as a surprise to the wedding guests?

Can you use some rhyme or write a poem?

Build a wedding speech around the groom’s impeccable manners and sobriety. Or the bride’s decades of abstinence before meeting her husband.

It’s instantly funnier and different.

Avoid The Internet! (We Know, Yeah! It’s Tricky)

You may be in lockdown but resist looking solely to the internet for help writing your speech… there are so many corny, cliched jokes out there.

Much better to sit down and use the time to think about what really makes your relationship special and what you really want to say about them.

This lockdown gives us a great opportunity to go back through old photos, scrapbooks, etc.

Go old school!

Create A Theme

Memories and anecdotes work best when linked around a central theme about the celebrant – something that defines them, that drew you together, their most memorable feature when someone meets them for the first time… the possibilities are endless!

We’ve written wedding speeches based around Top Gun , One Direction , Barbara Streisand songs, Sebastian Faulks , the Royal Family and Torville and Dean .

Each was completely and utterly original and only worked because it reflected the bride or groom to a tee.

Great books don’t get published after a single draft.

Nor do great wedding speeches become great right away.

You need to read them, tweak the structure and the words, make them punchier and clearer, and get to point where you can pause for breath at the perfect moments.

Practice Out Loud And Practice Speaking Slowly

Many of us instinctively speak very quickly without realising.

Take your time and practise pausing for breath and emphasis.

If you’re locked down with a suitable audience member then use them and get their advice on your pace and delivery.

We also offer delivery coaching over Skype for anyone feeling particularly jittery about standing up in front of a congregation!

How To Have Guests Hanging From Every Word

Poetry is a great way to heighten a wedding speech. It is traditional and deeply romantic when chosen with a careful touch.

But how do you choose a poem which encapsulates you as a couple, sounds organic, not forced, and engages your guests?

Katie Hedges from Great Speech Writing shares her expertise to help you find one that works for you.

Set A Theme

Decide on a theme for your speech, otherwise by itself will be impossible to choose.

“A great speech requires a clear structure; D ecide on a theme that will hold your speech together and write it in short, seamlessly flowing sentences.” explains Katie

Choosing the theme is up to you – you may want it to coincide with your wedding theme (if you have one), or perhaps you’d like to dedicate it to something more specific.

Once you’ve made your decision, start looking at a poem to compliment it.

Make It Personal

Don’t just pick a poem you think is suitable for a wedding setting, nor for a clichéd old favourite by the likes of Keats and Shelly (unless you feel it fits perfectly with your speech); a verse from a song or a poem by Allen Ginsberg or Ezra Pound could fit just as well.

“Using song lyrics or a poem written by your favourite band or poet can create a brilliant, original structure for your speech . You don’t need to sing it to the audience if you don’t feel comfortable, but it’s vital that you retain the original metre. Song lyrics can be just as effective as traditional poetry if chosen with care and delicacy.” Katie

Consider Length And Tone

Make sure your poem cultivates the right tone – whether that’s solemn, romantic or lively; and keep it the right length – you don’t want to bore your guests!

“Generally, we recommend 10 minutes as an optimum speaking time. “

So make sure that any poems or quotes you pick won’t mean that you’re talking for too long.

Deliver With Confidence

It isn’t just choosing the poem that’s important, it’s the performance itself.

Remember that you’re speaking in front of your friends and family, so relax, stand tall and speak clearly.

When delivering your speech, make eye contact with the audience, use positive body language and have a clear voice, says Katie.

If you look confident and natural, the speech will come across as all the more heartfelt.

This applies doubly to poetry; sound as if there’s genuine meaning to each word.

Mean What You Say

Performance is all very well, but to truly immortalise your day, choose a poem which you are emotionally connected to; one that you can read aloud and truly mean every single word.

Being honest from your heart is the most important thing of all.

Looking for something different?

We’ve also compiled a list with what we think are some of the best same-sex wedding readings , wedding quotes and wedding vows around. Find something that resonates with you: our selection of alternative wedding readings and poems may help.

Let us know if they help you when you’re writing your beloved wedding speech, or share any wedding speeches you love with us.

Need Professional Help? Hire a Speech Writer

We’re lucky enough to spend our working lives thinking about and writing original wedding speeches.

We know what works and make the time to get to know you personally so we can help you write something that sounds like you at the very top of your game.

We are all working from home during the lockdown, writing away and we’re at the end of the phone if you’d like to chat through any ideas you have for your wedding speech or to edit your first bash.

These are very odd times, and the wedding may seem a long way away. But there will never be a chance quite like this to nail the speech of your life!

Lawrence Bernstein is the founder of Great Speech Writing and, together with his team of writers, has worked with a range of speakers at different events.

In recent years Lawrence and his team have seen more clients coming to them for help speech-writing help for civil partnerships and same-sex weddings.

But their message never changes: don’t write for the occasion, write for the audience.

Don’t worry about the ‘type’ of wedding, think about the people and be sure you include the right balance of humour and sincerity for both the couple and for their guests.

If you would like help writing your same-sex wedding speech, give Great Speech Writing a ring on 020 7118 1600 or e-mail them at [email protected] .

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Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith feels self-doubt, even after the success of Julia

Ten years ago, Joanna Murray-Smith found herself grappling with a difficult feeling.

"I had to reckon with the realisation that I'll never be as good a writer as I want to be. And I'll never be as good a writer as the writers that I love," the Melbourne-based playwright says.

"But that's OK. I've come to accept that."

Her work — including her breakthrough play Honour, which explored infidelity; her adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage; and The Female of the Species, inspired by a real incident in Germaine Greer's life — have been hits on Australian stages, the West End and Broadway.

Yet that work has not been without controversy: She's been criticised for having a myopic focus on the lives of the middle-class and a conservative worldview ; and caused a stir when, in the mid-00s, she called out the then-artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company for never programming her plays.

Even after a decades-long career as one of Australia's most produced and most popular playwrights, she still struggles with moments of self-doubt.

"It's a very powerful sensation to be in the audience when you've got a play that's very successful, and that feeds your ego and gives you confidence that there's a point to it all," she says.

"But there are plenty of times where the feelings of exposure and being too sensitive for the job are overwhelming."

But that hasn't stopped Murray-Smith from writing.

In fact, the playwright has three shows on Australia's main stages this year: a national tour of Julia, her dive into the interior life of Australia's first woman prime minister; her new adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya; and a new production of Switzerland, her 2014 play about thriller writer Patricia Highsmith.

And those are just the shows on main stages. This year, there are countless amateur productions of Murray-Smith's plays in production in Australia and around the world.

Walking away and coming right back

Despite the obvious demand for her work, Murray-Smith has always had moments of doubt: "There have been plenty of times through my life where I've thought, 'This job is gonna kill me.'"

But she always comes back. The closest she came to quitting was in 1998, when her play Honour — about a middle-aged man leaving his wife for a much younger woman — opened on Broadway.

She had started writing the play in 1995, while studying at Columbia University (Meryl Streep and Sam Waterston starred in the first workshop of the play in New York).

Speaking to ABC RN's The Stage Show in 2021 , Murray-Smith reflected on that moment, with a laugh: "Being young, there was a part of me which thought, 'Well, this is where I'm at. This is the way it's always going to be. Never again will I have a play reading that doesn't have Meryl Streep in it.' I had to learn the hard way [that wasn't the case]."

Three years later, Honour's Broadway premiere was far from an immediate success, although it ultimately earned Tony nominations for two cast members.

"I was young enough to have sort of believed everyone who said to me, 'This is going to be a huge hit, this is going to change your life,'" Murray-Smith says.

"First of all, it wasn't a huge hit. But secondly, I don't think that professional glory really changes your life. It might make life simpler, because you've got more money. But I think if you're an artist your entire life, you're wracked with doubt about yourself."

Now, Murray-Smith sees Honour as one of her most successful plays. It's been performed in more than 36 countries, won her the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for drama in 1996, and won British actor Eileen Atkins an Olivier Award in 2004 for its National Theatre production.

True success

Something that has always helped Murray-Smith with self-doubt is closer to home: her children.

The playwright unexpectedly fell pregnant the year before she and her husband, journalist Raymond Gill, were due to move to New York, where she wrote Honour.

As Murray-Smith told The Stage Show: "[My husband said], 'I'll take the year off, we'll borrow the money, and we'll just make it happen somehow.' We flew off to New York with a three-month-old baby and great expectations."

Despite the difficulty of that, she insists that having children saved her life.

"The ease with which your professional life defines your sense of self is so dangerous — you only need to have some nitwit in a newspaper drag you down to touch a nerve, which is about your own self-doubt," she explains.

"When you've got children, you don't have any choice but to keep going: not so much professionally, but as a human being. You keep making lunches and getting kids to school and after a while your ego starts to resurrect."

This was only affirmed further when her mother Nita died in 2013.

Coping with grief and related writers' block, she realised through therapy that much of her drive for professional success stemmed from wanting to please her mother.

"Once she died, I allowed the other things that are important to me to take up more space, like my kids. It's not the writing that makes me happy. It's the children that make me happy," she says.

Writing Julia Gillard and the 'misogyny speech'

But Murray-Smith isn't planning on giving up writing. Her latest play is Julia, starring Justine Clarke, which had a sell-out premiere season in 2023 at Sydney Theatre Company (STC), and this year tours to Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra.

But when STC artistic director Kip Williams first asked her to write a play about Julia Gillard, Murray-Smith said no.

It was only after reading everything she could find about our former prime minister that the playwright became fascinated — not by what she learned about Gillard, but by the gaps in the story: Who was the person behind the politician, the person who had been able to withstand gender-based vitriol from the media and the opposition?

"I've had nervous breakdowns over much, much less criticism than she got," Murray-Smith says with a laugh.

"[Reading about Gillard] I was shocked by the vitriol all over again and realised that, at the time, I don't think I felt waves of empathy towards her as a woman."

She landed on the idea for Julia as an imagining of the former PM's interior life: It would be the playwright's version of Gillard, not a hagiography or biography. But she wouldn't write the show without Gillard's permission — which she gave, even (eventually) agreeing to an interview.

"It's not a play that I anticipated being a big success," Murray-Smith admits.

"The thrill of Julia has been realising that Australians not only love Australian stories, but they're so excited when something in their own lifetime is mythologised on stage."

That "something" is Gillard's infamous "misogyny speech" from 2012, where she called out then-opposition leader Tony Abbott in Parliament. It's one of the pivotal moments of the play.

Murray-Smith explains that the speech is one of those moments where people — especially women — remember where they were when it happened.

"In many cases, women were in working environments where they did not feel they had the power to be able to speak up and be able to object to misogyny or sexism in the workplace. And so, Julia was really speaking for them," she says.

"What that misogyny speech did in terms of ushering in a new era for women and a new sense of expectation for the behaviour of men has really touched a nerve in the audiences."

The cost of writing plays

A number of women politicians saw Julia and told Murray-Smith it resonated with their experiences — including the cost of public life.

But that is something not only politicians experience.

As for the cost of public life on Murray-Smith? "All artists are exposing themselves in ways that are difficult to live with.

"Every time I have a play on, I feel as if I'm standing naked in public. Even if the subject seems to be very removed from you, as Julia seemed to be very removed from me, it's completely autobiographical. You are unpeeling layers of your unconscious self in every line."

It wasn't until she was watching a preview of Julia in Melbourne earlier this month that she saw that she had modelled the relationship between Gillard and her father on her own relationship with her father, Stephen, the founder of progressive literary journal Overland.

Murray-Smith credits him with her understanding of ethics, her ideas around workaholism, and her sensitivity to issues of justice and fairness, especially in terms of class.

"I've attributed [those values] to Julia's father, and I genuinely think that's probably something we share. But I might be wrong. But whatever: The conviction in the play comes from my own experience," she says.

"Where your writing is hitting on your deeply buried internal truth, emotional truth, that's where it gets lift-off. You have to forget that you're revealing yourself, or it would be too terrifying and you wouldn't do it."

At 62 years old, Murray-Smith shows no signs of slowing down. Last month she was announced as the 2024 Patrick White Fellow at STC — a position worth $25,000, which also includes a commission for the company's 2025 season and mentorship of emerging writers.

Murray-Smith says she's motivated by her love of writing: "On the days when I'm not writing, I always have a sort of slight sense of having cheated myself out of the real fun."

"You have to be pretty egocentric if you're an artist. You have to believe that you've got something to say that's worth saying."

Julia runs until July 13 at Melbourne Theatre Company ; from July 31–August 11 at Canberra Theatre Centre ; from August 16–31 at State Theatre Company South Australia , Adelaide; and from September 5–October 12 at Sydney Theatre Company .

Uncle Vanya runs from July 26–August 31 at Ensemble Theatre, Sydney.

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Supreme court rules for texas woman arrested for political speech.

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Sylvia Gonzalez just prevailed at the U.S. Supreme Court in a First Amendment case.

Sylvia Gonzalez spent hours in a Texas jail charged with a crime engineered by her political opponent, the mayor of the city of Castle Hills. Now, nearly five years after that horrible day, the U.S. Supreme Court just said that her civil rights lawsuit against the mayor and his allies can move forward. The Court’s decision is meaningful not just for Sylvia, but for other Americans who face retaliatory criminal charges for their speech.

Quantifying how many crimes there are in the United States is practically impossible . On the federal level, there are over 5,000 criminal laws. But regulations can also make certain things crimes. With the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations running over 175,000 pages, there is no good survey of all the ways federal law can be breached. That also doesn’t account for state and local laws. A big state like Texas has thousands of existing laws and adds to them whenever the legislature meets. The state created at least 50 new criminal laws in the most recent legislative session.

Many of these laws sound like common sense prohibitions. But the sheer quantity of the laws—and the malleable way they are often written—makes it possible for bad actors to go in search of a crime to pin on their enemies. This is something that Justice Neil Gorsuch picked up on during the oral argument in Sylvia’s case when he was questioning the city’s attorney.

The legal question that the Court considered was what evidence Sylvia needed to present to demonstrate that her charges were politically motivated. At a city council meeting, a petition Sylvia had organized in support of removing the city manager was misplaced in her binder. She found the petition and returned it without ever leaving the council chambers.

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She was not arrested by the officers at the meeting and a detective who investigated her for weeks could find no crime. But a friend of the mayor was appointed as a special investigator and dug hard to find a crime to pin on her. Weeks after the incident, Sylvia was charged under Texas’ anti-tampering laws, which makes it a crime to remove a government document intentionally.

The Institute for Justice (IJ) attorneys representing her showed that no one had ever been arrested or prosecuted under that statute for such conduct. Most people charged with violating the law had forged social security numbers, driver’s licenses, or immigration papers.

The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Sylvia saying that this wasn’t enough. Instead, Sylvia needed to prove that someone had violated the law in the same way but had never been prosecuted for it. That gave Sylvia and anyone else in her situation an almost impossible task. The government doesn’t typically keep records of times when people aren’t arrested.

At oral argument, the attorney for the city said that people like Sylvia could look for such evidence in the news. That didn’t satisfy the justices and the Court sided with Sylvia saying that “the demand for virtually identical and identifiable comparators goes too far” and that her evidence should be considered.

Recent research from IJ shows that retaliation experienced by Sylvia is a bigger problem than Americans probably realize. The report, Unaccountable , found that, among federal appeals where officials claimed qualified immunity, alleged violations of First Amendment rights were surprisingly common—and most often, they involved retaliation by government officials against citizens engaging in protected speech or activity.

Sylvia’s case is not done, but it has overcome a significant hurdle. After the decision, she reflected on her experience: “This has been a nightmare for the last five years. It has kept me up at night, but finally I can sleep knowing that the nightmare I’ve gone through will protect critics from retaliation in the future.”

The First Amendment protects our rights to free speech and to participate in the political process free of the fear of retribution. The courthouse doors need to be open for people who have faced retaliation.

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