The 100 Women campaign is back, with the BBC focussing the world news on female issues by bringing together 100 women making waves across the globe for a variety of different reasons. While some of them you might have heard of (Laura Bates of @everydaysexism fame, for example) others might be new to you - all of these women are worth keeping an eye on, but we've picked five you should definitely know about.
Yas Necati
**Twitter: [@YasNecati
](http://www.twitter.com/yasnecati)**At**At){href='http://www.twitter.com/yasnecati)**At' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'} just 18 years old, Yas already edits US based female activist movement Powered By Girl, is a team member at No More Page 3 and campaigns for better sex and relationships education in the UK. Her #BetterSexEducation project with The Telegraph gained 52,000 petition signatures, and actually forced the curriculum (which hasn't changed since the year 2000) to be reviewed to include violence against women and the dangers of internet pornography. Why should you look out for her? Well, apart from all of that, she's writing a book at the moment on teenagers, sexuality and mental health which is bound to make some serious waves.
READ MORE: This Feminist Vid Featuring Little Girls Swearing Has Got Us All Confused
Kavita Krishnan
**Twitter: @[kavitakrishnan
](http://www.twitter.com/kavitakrishnan)**Doing**Doing){href='http://www.twitter.com/kavitakrishnan)**Doing' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'} good work in a country that really needs it, Kavita is a former student activist operating in Delhi who's now the secretary for the All India Progressive Women's Association. India now ranks 114 out of 146 countries in a recent Gender Gap report, and she was the one who publicised the problem for women in India after the horrific 2012 Delhi gang rapes. She, and the other Association members call authority figures out, and stand up for injustice - so obviously get trolled and torn down by those who believe in keeping the (damaging) status quo.
Case in point:
Professor Lesley Yellowlees
The first female president of the Royal Chemistry Society is a big deal - not only because the science world is seen as a proper boys club (we wonder why the male pill hasn't arrived yet...?) but because girls aren't entering STEM jobs for a lack of female role models. Who wants to join a profession where all the leaders seem to be male? The science industries are changing, but Prof. Yellowlees is the perfect example of a role model for women kicking ass in the chemworld. 'Women in STEM academic positions at senior level are clearly few and far between, but the numbers are improving,' she said when made president of the Society. 'A lot has been done, but there is still a lot to do - especially to ensure all our young female chemists coming through have sufficient female role models to look up and aspire to.'
Linda Tirado
**Twitter: @[killermartinis
](http://www.twitter.com/killermartinis)**Her**Her){href='http://www.twitter.com/killermartinis)**Her' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'} novel Hand To Mouth: Living In Bootstrap America just came out at the beginning of this month and it's an incredible tirade against being poor in a country that prizes wealth. Focussing on the attitude that despite living on minimum wage, young people are still accused of not trying hard enough (has anyone lived on minimum wage? It sucks the lifeforce out of you and turns you into a walking sadness zombie), and packaging it in a satisfying scream of anger at the injustice of it all - this a novel you totally need to read. Now.
Kate Smurthwaite
**Twitter: [@Cruella1
](http://www.twitter.com/cruella1)**The**The){href='http://www.twitter.com/cruella1)**The' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer'} comedian you totally should have heard of by now, Kate has been on a shedload of TV shows across all major channels saying incredibly clever, funny and sensible things about sexism in comedy and politics. Or just sexism in general. Basically, follow her on Twitter and get to one of her shows/check her out on the radio or the telly box because whatever she's talking about, people listen. Since her appearance on Question Time where she laid into Lord Oakeshott, he has since left the Lib Dems. Just saying.
You might also be interested in...
These Chinese Women Are Standing Up To Inequality One Toilet At A Time
Follow Stevie on Twitter @5tevieM
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.