The truth is however, Tereshkova and her fellow female cosmonauts were never on equal basis with the ‘regular’ male cosmonauts; with limited flight slots, any woman who flew into space was considered taking place of a man. She had to wear heavy makeup for public appearances, and even married another cosmonaut under pressure from Soviet leaders seeking propaganda advantage during the space race against U.S. 

Despite the barriers, Tereshkova was named the hero of the Soviet Union and was twice awarded the Order of Lenin, the highest civilian decoration. Her legacy continues on today, encouraging women in space regardless of their gender and nationality.