Women's History Month: 10 books, movies, tv shows, and podcasts to share with your students

Women’s History Month is in full swing! This month presents a great opportunity to share resources with your students that highlight the accomplishments of incredible women from all walks of life. With students being more in-tune with social issues than any prior generation, you may be looking for learning materials that speak to their interests and diverse points of view. Quizlet is here to help! From women’s history to activism to intersectionality, we’ve rounded up the best books, podcasts, movies, and TV shows that are sure to engage and inspire your students in the classroom and beyond.

Books

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Why are feminists often associated with negative stereotypes? And what does feminism mean today? Adapted from her acclaimed TEDx Talk, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essay explores the definition of feminism in the twenty-first century, with stories of her experience growing up in Nigeria. Taking a more inclusive and intersectional approach. We Should All Be Feminists is a great way to introduce students to gender studies.

Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang

Wild Swans covers the story of three generations of Chinese women living in the 20th century. Both a memoir and a look into history, Jung Chang explores themes such as culture, revolution, and freedom. Through the eyes of three women, all living with different but related challenges, the book offers students a chance to experience a world unlike their own.

My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor

You and your students will love reading this book by the first Latina Supreme Court Justice. Sonia grew up in the projects in the Bronx and wound up on the most senior court in the land. Inspiring and candid, her memoir details how she overcame adversity and learned to love herself.

Movies & TV

RBG

Your students may know her best by her moniker “The Notorious RBG”, but how much do they know about the strides Ruth Bader Ginsburg made for women in gender equality? This award-winning documentary takes a closer look at the life and work of one of the most influential Supreme Court judges. Not only will students learn about landmark cases that changed the social and political landscape for women, but they will also gain deep insight into the barriers Ginsburg navigated as a Jewish woman in the legal profession, which ultimately shaped her career and worldview.

Hidden Figures

Everyone loves an underdog story, especially one based on true events. In Hidden Figures, students will learn about the three African-American female mathematicians who helped launch John Glenn into space in the 1960s. Though they faced racism and sexism, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan forged through adversity and became essential to the success of the American space program. Their work would later pave the way for future mathematicians and engineers of all races and genders.

Knock Down the House

For an inside look into the campaigns of four female candidates who ran for Congress during a history-making election year, look no further than the Netflix documentary, Knock Down the House. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Amy Vilela of Nevada, Cori Bush of Missouri, and Paula Jean Swearengin of West Virginia each come from very different backgrounds, but all were galvanized to represent their communities in the 2018 United States elections. Running against long-time incumbents, their campaigns were grassroots but left a profound impact on their election year. Their efforts led to a record voter turnout not seen since 1914 and electoral firsts for women, minorities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Mrs. America

The 1970s was a pivotal decade for women’s activism, and the TV mini-series Mrs. America expertly portrays the stories, struggles, and achievements of real-life feminists from that time period. Students will be introduced to women from both sides of the aisle: those who fought for equal rights and those who fought to maintain the status quo. This juxtaposition of feminism against anti-feminism will allow students to think critically about the social and political changes that sparked the Equal Rights Amendment movement. If you’re looking for engaging material that offers context to the ERA and the rise of second-wave feminism, be sure to add Mrs. America to your list.

Podcasts

The History Chicks

Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenweider: Two women. Half the population. Several thousand years of history condensed to about an hour. That’s the premise of The History Chicks. Each episode takes an in-depth look at notable female characters throughout history, both factual and fictional—there’s even an episode about Mrs. Claus! They cover basic facts about these characters as well as relevant challenges, successes, and failures. This podcast will introduce students to new historical women and inspire them to dive deeper.

How to Be a Girl

How To Be a Girl is a podcast produced by a mother and her transgender daughter to document daily life as they attempt to sort out what it means to be a girl…together. Tackling everything from simple everyday challenges to tougher subjects like “The Bathroom Bill” and “Medical Stuff”, this podcast offers students a unique perspective on both raising and growing up as a transgender child.

What’s Good Games

Women like to game too! Hosted by three women in the gaming industry, What's Good Games is a nerdy, upbeat podcast that covers video game news, commentary, and analyses. The hosts also discuss the male-dominated world of gaming in a way that centers the voices and perspectives of women. Even if students aren't gamers, they'll still gain invaluable insights into the experiences of women involved in a popular, future-facing industry.