Happy March and an even happier Women’s History Month to all! The fight for women’s civil freedoms has existed for millennia, yet “Women’s History Month” has only existed as a federal holiday in the United States for less than 50 years, 38 to be exact; and it is often difficult for many Americans to accept the uncomfortable truth that women have only had equal rights for just over a bicentennial, with the Equal Rights Amendment passing March 22 of 1972. But like many other movements, the fight is never over for true equality. There have been stark reminders within recent years that this is the bitter truth with actions such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade almost three years ago and re-sparking the hot topic of abortion and women’s bodily autonomy. Today, I want to remind you all of the strength and importance of women throughout the centuries and as always, I will be doing that through a list of books that you can read to celebrate this Women’s History Month.
What better place to start than Sarah B. Pomeroy’s “Women’s History and Ancient History?” This book explores the often-overlooked roles and lives of women in ancient civilizations, arguing for their significance in historical narratives traditionally dominated by male figures. Pomeroy compiles a series of essays from scholars who analyze the experiences of women across various ancient societies, including Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Topics range from women’s legal status and economic contributions to their roles in religion, family life, and politics. By challenging longstanding assumptions about gender roles in antiquity, Pomeroy’s work sheds light on the complexities of women’s historical experiences and emphasizes the need for a more inclusive approach to studying the past.
For a more modern, American-centered approach, I bring you, Ruth Milkman’s collection of essays providing a historical examination of women’s roles in the labor force and their contributions to movements in the United States in the book, “Women, Work, and Protest.” Milkman and other contributors analyze key moments in labor history, such as the strikes in the garment industry, the impact of World War II on women’s employment, and the struggles of working-class women for workplace rights. The book explores how gender has shaped the nature of work, wages, and job segregation, demonstrating the unique challenges women workers have faced due to sexism and discrimination. Additionally, it highlights the resilience and activism of women who have fought for fair wages, better working conditions, and labor rights, emphasizing their crucial role in shaping the broader labor movement.
Something we often forget is the major impact of especially Black women’s role in the equal rights movements’, “A Black Women’s History of the United States” by Diana Remey Berry and Kali N. Gross offers a sweeping historical account of Black women’s lives, struggles, and contributions from the earliest days of American history to the present. Berry and Gross highlight the voices of enslaved women, activists, educators, and political leaders who have shaped the nation’s history but have often been excluded from mainstream narratives. The book challenges conventional historical perspectives by centering the lived experiences of Black women, from early resistance against slavery to leadership in social justice movements such as Civil Rights, Black feminism, and contemporary political activism. Through rigorous research and engaging storytelling, the authors paint a compelling picture of Black women’s agency, resilience, and influence in shaping American society.
“Bad Girls and Transgressive Women in Popular Television, Fiction, and Film” by Mallory Young and Julie Chappell is another collection of essays that critically examines how rebellious, unconventional, and defiant women have been portrayed in media and literature. The book analyzes a variety of characters—from femme fatales and anti-heroines to morally ambiguous figures, who challenge societal expectations of femininity and gender roles. By exploring examples from television, fiction, and film, such as powerful female protagonists in noir fiction, dystopian heroines, and controversial figures in popular culture, the contributors argue that “bad girls” serve as a lens for questioning norms about female behavior, morality, and agency. The book also considers how these portrayals reflect changing cultural attitudes toward women’s autonomy, power, and resistance to patriarchal control.
Another fascinating book I found is “The Glass Slipper” by Susan Weisser, a thought-provoking work that explores the powerful influence of romantic narratives on women’s lives, examining how fairy-tale tropes, such as the “Cinderella story,” continue to shape ideas about love, femininity, and relationships. Drawing from literature, film, and cultural history, she critiques the ways in which these narratives often reinforce gender roles, positioning women as passive recipients of male rescue and romantic fulfillment. Weisser also examines modern reinterpretations of these tropes, questioning whether contemporary love stories challenge or reinforce traditional ideals. By analyzing both classic and modern romance narratives, this book offers a critical look at how romance shapes personal and cultural identities.
Mixing aspects of truth and fiction, Andrea Lea shares, “Interesting Women: Stories” a collection of short stories that follows a diverse cast of sophisticated, worldly women navigating issues of love, power, identity, and privilege. Set in various international locations, including Italy, Africa, and the United States; the stories explore the intersection of race, class, and gender through the lens of upper-class, cosmopolitan women. Lee’s writing is elegant and sharp, depicting women who are both privileged and vulnerable, caught between societal expectations and their personal desires. The collection offers a nuanced exploration of relationships, cultural dislocation, and self-discovery, presenting female protagonists who defy stereotypes yet remain deeply human in their contradictions and struggles.
For those wanting a more leisurely appreciation of women’s history, I turn to “The Weight of Ink” by Rachel Kadish. This richly layered historical novel weaves together the lives of two women separated by centuries, Helen Watt, a modern-day historian in London, and Ester Velasquez, a Jewish woman living in 17th-century England. When Helen and her student discover a cache of old documents written in Hebrew and Portuguese, they embark on a journey to uncover Ester’s story, a woman who defied societal expectations by pursuing intellectual and philosophical inquiry in an era that denied women formal education. The novel explores themes of feminism, religious freedom, intellectual pursuit, and historical discovery, offering a deeply immersive narrative that highlights the struggles of women who dared to seek knowledge in a world that sought to silence them.
And because speculative fiction and dystopian novels are my favorite genres, I couldn’t resist bringing up a book I recently started, the famous “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. This novel, set in the modern day, depicts a society where a theocratic government has overthrown the United States government and established a rigid, patriarchal system. Due to widespread infertility, certain women, called Handmaids, are forced into reproductive servitude to bear children for the ruling elite. The story follows Offred, a Handmaid who remembers her past life and struggles to maintain her identity in a world that seeks to strip her of autonomy. As she navigates this oppressive system, Offred secretly resists through small acts of defiance, hoping for escape or revolution. Atwood’s novel is a chilling exploration of authoritarianism, gender oppression, and the power of resistance, remaining profoundly relevant in discussions about women’s rights and bodily autonomy.
Well, that was quite a sad and honestly terrifying note to end on, but I feel it is most important to read about these speculative and historical tales to truly understand the world that we do live in. Literary fiction allows us to enter these worlds and take away lessons from them to better our current mindsets. In all, I hope you have found an interesting book or novel to explore today to celebrate the past, present, and even future of Women’s History. Happy Women’s History Month.
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