THE November issue of National Geographic Magazine marks a historic occasion – it is the first issue, in which all content, both written and photographic, has been contributed by women.

The single-topic issue looks at the rising power of female voices throughout history, celebrating the women around the world who fearlessly push boundaries.

In conjunction with the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, National Geographic exclusively reveals the 2019-2020 Women, Peace, and Security Index, which ranks 167 countries from best to worst places to be a woman.

Slouching! Not acceptable! USMC Staff Sgt. Hollie Mulvihill, 26, a Parris Island drill instructor, barks disciplinary consequences at recruit Melissa Rodriguez Flores, 18. The corps trains all female recruits at Parris; their regimen is designed to be identical to men’s.

A mother of three at 23, Mpayon Loboitong’o herds her family’s goats on her own; after her husband left to find work in Nairobi, she was told he’d been killed there. Her other full-time job: charting animal movements for Save the Elephants. For a monthly salary she and eight other women traverse the bush, unarmed, amid elephants, lions, and African buffalo. “I do this work so my kids don’t go to bed hungry,” she says. Picture: Lynn Johnson/National Geographic

A luminary in the high-testosterone restaurant world (she’s the only woman in the U.S. ever awarded three Michelin stars), San Francisco chef Dominique Crenn made what she says seemed the obvious decision after her invasive breast cancer diagnosis this spring: She went public with it. “For all the women who have been on this journey before me and now with me, my heart is with you,” Crenn wrote her 270,000 Instagram followers. The answering roar of love and accolades is still carrying her through. “Guess what? I’m strong,” she says. “Not everything is happy, you know? But I’m very thankful and very grateful. Being in the public eye was never my main thing. My main thing is always to fight the fight.” Picture: Lynn Johnson/National Geographic

Vestine Mukeshimana has transported people on her motorbike in Kigali for more than a decade. When she started the business, her male colleagues encouraged her and referred customers. It’s normal in Rwanda, she says, to support women entrepreneurs. Picture: Yagazie Emezi/National Geographic

Using data and graphics to illustrate how women’s empowerment compares in different countries, the index measures women’s inclusion in society, their overall security and their exposure to discrimination based on factors such as employment, education, financial access, community safety, domestic violence and law-based descrimintation. Norway ranks first, the United Kingdom came in at number seven and Yemen ranks last.

This month, National Geographic also highlights individual women of impact, such as Theresa Kachindamoto, who is the first female chief of the Southern Ngoni people and has terminated over 2,500 child marriages, sending the girls back into education. Joyce Banda is the first female president of Malawi and established the National Association of Business Women, ensuring they are granted financial independence in Malawi.

Additional features published in the issue include an in-depth look at women-in-combat, the different precautions and measures women in India have taken to improve their safety and existence in society, and an essay that shares real-life stories of women in STEM and the human consequences of gender-based discrimination.

Afghanistan, 1968. Woman draped in red chadri carries caged goldfinches in a traditional manner. Picture: Thomas J. Abercrombie/National Geographic

The 1950 Constitution of India, the founding national document of the former British colony, ensures suffrage to every adult Indian citizen regardless of “religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.” From the launch of the modern republic, in other words, Indian women have had the vote—and they exercise it. These women in Bengaluru have just cast their 2019 parliamentary ballots; the fingernails they’re showing off were indelibly inked by election officials, a national practice that’s supposed to prevent repeat voting. Picture: Lynn Johnson/National Geographic

The November issue also marks the beginning of a year of coverage across print, digital and broadcast platforms exploring the lives of women and the massive changes underway for girls and women around the globe. Using #NatGeoWomenofImpact they encourage others to share how the women in their lives have empowered them.

This month further sees the launch of WOMEN: The National Geographic Image Collection, a powerful new book showcasing iconic women around the world, celebrating and reflecting on where the world’s women have been, where they are now and where they are going.

The book features 450 powerful photographs from the unparalleled National Geographic archives, spanning three centuries and more than 30 countries. It is a compelling, timely and richly diverse volume honouring groundbreaking women everywhere who’ve made it possible to say, definitely, that the future is female.

For this special collection, National Geographic has asked a diverse array of women to speak about the biggest challenges they have overcome, their breakthrough moments and the changes that need to happen for a more inclusive future. These include Emma Gonzales (Activist), Christine Amanpour (Chief International Correspondent, CNN), Oprah Winfrey (Media Mogul) and Alicia Garza (Co-Founder, Black Lives Matter) amongst others. WOMEN: The National Geographic Image Collection is available now.

Finally, National Geographic will be launching a Women of Impact online hub, which will include even more content and a series of interviews with UK women who are at the top of their field, have overcome hurdles to do so, or who have stories that are inspiring the next generation of women – from scientists to adventurers, campaigners and authors. The online hub will go live later this week at www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/womenofimpact.

The issue of National Geographic Magazine is on shelves from November 6.