This thread has more generalizations than Cliff Notes of Readers Digest. It's futile to try to talk about women. I think the original poster had a valid question because he wanted to know about individual women. Every playboy bunny is unique -- some smart and possibly exploitive, some dumb as a box of bricks and supporting themselves with their only assets. Every day I am forwarded sexist jokes that make men appear to be incompetent idiots, women either all-knowing, long suffering matriarchs who suffer us manly fools or blonde ditzes. Though I think women have been making strides in the workplace because they have demanded that men allow them choices, that me-vs them-attitude also perpetuates the attitudes that stereotype us. It's impossible for me to make generalizations about either men or women, only individuals.
And as for the original question, I have met hundreds of women I admire for their integrity, warmth, dedication to family or profession, and accomplishments; I have also met hundreds who invite contempt. If the yardstick for admiration is achievement or leaving a mark on the word, I nominate Mother Theresa, an example of altruism that exists in household across the world but which generally goes unrecognized.