What is Women's History Month?
March is Women's History Month, a month dedicated to the recognition, study, and celebration of women's contribution to society, past and present. Women's History Month actually began as Women's History Week in 1980, when President Jimmy Carter declared March 2-8 as Women's History Week. President Carter was prompted to issue this national proclamation after years of successful lobbying by women in education. After several states adopted this holiday, Congress finally declared the entire month of March as Women's History Month in perpetuity. Every year since, each President issues their own official proclamation. 
Bygone Badass Broads by
"You'll meet suffragettes who did jujitsu, women warriors who wore lipstick into battle and queens who put women in their rightful places--positions of power." --Ms. Based on Mackenzi Lee's popular weekly Twitter series of the same name, Bygone Badass Broads features fifty-two remarkable and forgotten trailblazing women from all over the world. With tales of heroism and cunning, in-depth bios and witty storytelling, Bygone Badass Broads gives new life to these historic female pioneers. Starting in the fifth century BC and continuing to the present, the book takes a closer look at bold and inspiring women who dared to step outside the traditional gender roles of their time. Coupled with riveting illustrations and Lee's humorous and conversational storytelling style, this book is an outright celebration of the badass women who paved the way for the rest of us. "The author of the first novel, warriors and rulers, scientists and war heroes. History abounds with tales of trailblazing women long forgotten--especially those who were nonwhite, non-Western, or not straight. Take a look at a dozen of the women in Bygone Badass Broads so you can begin to see what you missed in history class." --The Boston Globe "Shar[es] the stories of fifty-two women in history who changed the game forever--even though you've probably never heard of them . . . If you're looking for some inspiration this , you Women's History Month just got it--fifty-two times over." --Bustle "Lee admirably fulfills her stated goal of promoting lesser-known subjects who are awesome, accompanied by brightly colored, full-page artwork." --School Library Journal
A Black Women's History of the United States by
The award-winning Revisioning American History series continues with this "groundbreaking new history of Black women in the United States" (Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist)-the perfect companion to An Indigenous People's History of the United States and An African American and Latinx History of the United States. An empowering and intersectional history that centers the stories of African American women across 400+ years, showing how they are-and have always been-instrumental in shaping our country. In centering Black women's stories, two award-winning historians seek both to empower African American women and to show their allies that Black women's unique ability to make their own communities while combatting centuries of oppression is an essential component in our continued resistance to systemic racism and sexism. Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross offer an examination and celebration of Black womanhood, beginning with the first African women who arrived in what became the United States to African American women of today. A Black Women's History of the United States reaches far beyond a single narrative to showcase Black women's lives in all their fraught complexities. Berry and Gross prioritize many voices- enslaved women, freedwomen, religious leaders, artists, queer women, activists, and women who lived outside the law. The result is a starting point for exploring Black women's history and a testament to the beauty, richness, rhythm, tragedy, heartbreak, rage, and enduring love that abounds in the spirit of Black women in communities throughout the nation.
Behind Every Great Man by
Who Said Men Get to Monopolize the Glory? Discover the Little Known Women Who Have Put the World's Alpha Males on the Map. From ancient times to the present, men have gotten most of the good ink. Yet standing just outside the spotlight are the extraordinary, and overlooked, wives and companions who are just as instrumental in shaping the destinies of their famous--and infamous--men. This witty, illuminating book reveals the remarkable stories of forty captivating females, from Constance Lloyd (Mrs. Oscar Wilde) to Carolyn Adams (Mrs. Jerry Garcia), who have stood behind their legendary partners and helped to humanize them, often at the cost of their own careers, reputations, and happiness. Through fame and its attendant ills--alcoholism, infidelity, mental illness, divorce, and even attempted murder--these powerful women quietly propelled their men to the top and changed the course of history. Meet the Untold Half of History, Including: Alma Reville (Mrs. Alfred Hitchcock) Elena Diakonova (Mrs. Salvador Dali) Winifred Madikizela (Mrs. Nelson Mandela) Ann Charteris (Mrs. Ian Fleming, a.k.a. Mrs. James Bond) Ruth Alpern (Mrs. Bernie Maddoff) And 35 more!
Beloved Women by
In an era when minorities struggled for recognition, LaDonna Harris and Wilma Mankiller furthered the interests of Native Americans and forged a new place for women in politics by astutely playing accepted notions about ethnicity and gender to their own advantage. In Beloved Women, historian Sarah Eppler Janda examines the public identity these two women created for themselves and how, in turn, their respective identities shaped their political fortunes. Moving beyond the conventional role of a 1950s U.S. senator's wife, Harris discovered opportunities to call attention to the inequalities facing Native Americans. A Comanche, Harris founded activist organizations, testified at congressional hearings, and served on scores of federal committees concerning both women and Native Americans. At the same time, by attributing her humanitarian efforts to tribal values, Harris asserted the relevance of Indian beliefs and customs in modern society. During the heyday of the women's rights movement, Mankiller linked feminist ideas to Cherokee tradition. Indian culture, she asserted, esteems women, as proven by the legendary Beloved Woman who fulfills familial expectations yet also assumes political duties. Mankiller adopted this role when she became the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1985, a position she held for a decade. Harris and Mankiller became national leaders, Janda concludes, in large part because their complex persona--Indian and woman--enabled them to challenge social and political norms.
Mary Wollstonecraft - a Vindication of the Rights of Woman by
Mary Wollstonecraft was born on 27th April 1759 in Spitalfields, London. Although her family had a comfortable income much was squandered by her father leading the family to become financially diminished. Wollstonecraft struck out on her own in 1778 and accepted a job as a lady's companion. Frustrated by the limited career options open to respectable yet poor women, she nonetheless decided to embark upon a career as an author. At the time, few women could support themselves by writing. She learned French and German and translated texts. She also wrote reviews, primarily of novels, for Johnson's periodical, the Analytical Review. Wollstonecraft also pursued a relationship with the artist Henry Fuseli. Boldly she proposed a platonic living arrangement with Fuseli and his wife. Fuseli's wife was shocked and the relationship was severed. In December 1792 she left for France to view first hand the revolutionary events that she had just celebrated in her recent 'Vindication of the Rights of Men' (1790) and that had brought her immediate fame. France declared war on Britain in February 1793 and Wollstonecraft tried to leave for Switzerland but was denied permission. Despite her sympathy for the revolution, life for Wollstonecraft was very uncomfortable. Having just written the 'Rights of Woman', Wollstonecraft determined to put her ideas to the test. She alighted on and fell passionately in love with Gilbert Imlay, an American diplomat and adventurer. By now she was disillusioned by the Revolution's path. She thought the republic behaved slavishly to those in power while the government was 'venal' and 'brutal'. To protect Wollstonecraft from the prospect of arrest, Imlay made a false statement to the U.S. embassy in Paris that he had married her, automatically making her an American citizen. Wollstonecraft, now pregnant by Imlay, gave birth to her first child, Fanny, on 14th May 1794. She was overjoyed. The winter of 1794-95 was the coldest winter in over a century. Wollstonecraft and Fanny were reduced to desperate circumstances. Wollstonecraft now had to risk leaving France and did so on 7th April 1795. She sought Imlay out but he was impassive to her pleas. In May 1795 she attempted to commit suicide, but it is thought Imlay saved her life. But it was now certain that her relationship with Imlay was over. She attempted suicide for a second time but a passing stranger witnessed her jump into the Thames and rescued her. Gradually, Wollstonecraft returned to literary life, and to a relationship with William Godwin. Once Wollstonecraft became pregnant by him, they decided to marry so that the child would be legitimate. On 30th August 1797, Wollstonecraft gave birth to her second daughter, Mary. During the delivery the placenta broke apart and became infected. After several days of agony, Mary Wollstonecraft died of septicemia on 10th September 1797.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World by
A 2021 NATIONAL PARENTING PRODUCT AWARDS WINNER! The third installment in the New York Times bestselling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series, featuring 100 immigrant women who have shaped, and will continue to shape, our world. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World is packed with 100 all-new bedtime stories about the lives of incredible female figures from the past and the present such as: Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief Carmen Miranda, Singer and Actress Diane von Fürstenberg, Fashion Designer Gloria Estefan, Singer Ilhan Omar, Politician Josephine Baker, Entertainer and Activist Lupita Nyong'o, Actress Madeleine Albright, Politician Rihanna, Entrepreneur and Singer Samantha Power, Diplomat This volume recognizes women who left their birth countries for a multitude of reasons: some for new opportunities, some out of necessity. Readers will whip up a plate with Asma Khan, strategize global affairs alongside Madeleine Albright, venture into business with Rihanna, and many more. All of these unique, yet relatable stories are accompanied by gorgeous, full-page, full-color portraits, illustrated by 70 female and nonbinary artists from 29 countries across the globe.
Women's Art Work by
Discover the work of female artists who have made their mark on the art world. Women's Art Work introduces readers to the lives and work of the world's most renowned artists. With a foreword from Tate's first female director, Maria Balshaw, this collection celebrates the creativity of women in more than 30 biographies, investigating their practices and exploring their contributions to the art world. Readers will learn about a diverse group of innovators like Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman, Ana Mendieta, Lubaina Himid, Cao Fei, and the Guerrilla Girls. From early pioneers to today's most radical creators, these women have overcome obstacles, broken boundaries, and enriched our understanding of what art is and can be. With a glossary of art terms, a timeline of major milestones, and educational sidebars, this highly illustrated book is perfect for any art lover. Additionally, it features original interviews with living artists--including Yayoi Kusama, Lorna Simpson, and Rachel Whiteread. Featured artists include: - Eileen Agar - Anni Albers - Louise Bourgeois - Sonia Boyce - Claude Cahun - Judy Chicago - Tacita Dean - Tracey Emin - Cao Fei - Simryn Gill - Guerrilla Girls - Natalia Goncharova - Anthea Hamilton - Barbara Hepworth - Lubaina Himid - Gwen John - Joan Jonas - Frida Kahlo - Yayoi Kusama - Agnes Martin - Ana Mendieta - Berthe Morisot - Georgia O'Keeffe - Paula Rego - Bridget Riley - Doris Salcedo - Cindy Sherman - Lorna Simpson - Dayanita Singh - Gillian Wearing - Rachel Whiteread - Lynette Yiadom-Boakye - Fahrelnissa Zeid
Headstrong by
Fifty-two inspiring and insightful profiles of history's brightest female scientists. "Rachel Swaby's no-nonsense and neededHeadstrongdynamically profiles historically overlooked female visionaries in science, technology, engineering, and math."-Elle In 2013, theNew York Timespublished an obituary for Yvonne Brill. It began- "She made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband from job to job, and took eight years off from work to raise three children." It wasn't until the second paragraph that readers discovered why theTimes had devoted several hundred words to her life- Brill was a brilliant rocket scientist who invented a propulsion system to keep communications satellites in orbit, and had recently been awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Among the questions the obituary-and consequent outcry-prompted were, Who are the role models for today's female scientists, and where can we find the stories that cast them in their true light? Headstrongdelivers a powerful, global, and engaging response. Covering Nobel Prize winners and major innovators, as well as lesser-known but hugely significant scientists who influence our every day, Rachel Swaby's vibrant profiles span centuries of courageous thinkers and illustrate how each one's ideas developed, from their first moment of scientific engagement through the research and discovery for which they're best known. This fascinating tour reveals 52 women at their best-while encouraging and inspiring a new generation of girls to put on their lab coats.
Woman: the American history of an idea by
A comprehensive history of the struggle to define womanhood in America, from the seventeenth to the twenty-first century.
One hundred years after the passage of the 19th Amendment, The Vote tells the dramatic culmination story of the hard-fought campaign waged by American women for the right to vote, a transformative cultural and political movement that resulted in the largest expansion of voting rights in U.S. history.
The women’s movement has gone mainstream: from the first female presidential nominee to the inclusion of a woman of color on a major party ticket, from the Women’s March to #MeToo, from Black Lives Matter to the fight for trans lives. Premiering amid an unprecedented pandemic and widespread social upheaval, NOT DONE shines a light on today’s feminists who are paving the way for true equality. Distributed by PBS Distribution.
Hosted by Academy Award-winner Rita Moreno and Dee Wallace Stone, Women First & Foremost offers shining examples of how generations of women have achieved their deserved place at the forefront of history.
