March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the incredible contributions of women throughout history. Within this month of recognition, March 8th stands out as International Women’s Day (IWD)—a global celebration of women’s achievements and a call to action for gender equality. The theme “Join together for gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” reminds us that a just and equitable world benefits everyone, and that the future depends on breaking barriers for women everywhere.
The History of International Women’s Day
The roots of International Women’s Day trace back to the early 20th century, born from the struggles of women fighting for their rights. The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909, organized by the Socialist Party of America in honor of garment workers who had protested for better working conditions.
Inspired by this movement, Clara Zetkin, a German activist, proposed an annual Women’s Day at the International Socialist Women's Conference in 1910. The idea was embraced, and on March 19, 1911, the first official International Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, with over a million people advocating for women's rights, including suffrage and workplace equality.
March 8th became the recognized date in 1917, when women in Russia protested for “Bread and Peace” during World War I, demanding better living conditions and an end to war. Their actions led to significant political change, including women gaining the right to vote in Russia. In 1977, the United Nations officially recognized March 8th as International Women’s Day, solidifying it as a global event for gender equality.
A Call to Action
Over a century later, the fight for gender equality continues. Women worldwide still face disparities in pay, leadership opportunities, healthcare access, and personal safety. The theme this year encourages us to come together—regardless of gender—to create a more sustainable, inclusive, and equal world for future generations.
Books to Teach Women's History
1. A Is for Awesome!: 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World - Why stick with plain old A, B, C when you can have Amelia (Earhart), Malala, Tina (Turner), Ruth (Bader Ginsburg), all the way to eXtraordinary You―and the Zillion of adventures you will go on?
2. She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World - Throughout United States history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what's right, even when they have to fight to be heard. In this book, Chelsea Clinton celebrates thirteen American women who helped shape our country through their tenacity, sometimes through speaking out, sometimes by staying seated, sometimes by captivating an audience. They all certainly persisted.
3. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History - Featuring 40 trailblazing black women in history, this book educates and inspires as it relates true stories of women who broke boundaries and exceeded all expectations, including: Nurse Mary Seacole, Politician Diane Abbott, Mathematician Katherine Johnson, Singer Shirley Bassey. Bestselling author and artist Vashti Harrison pairs captivating text and beautiful illustrations as she tells the stories of both iconic and lesser-known female figures. Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things.
4. Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels - Women have been doing amazing, daring, and dangerous things for years, but they're rarely mentioned in our history books as adventurers, daredevils, or rebels. This new compilation of brief biographies features women throughout history who have risked their lives for adventure―many of whom you may not know, but all of whom you'll WANT to know, such as: Annie Edson Taylor, the first person who dared to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman who dared to fly in space, Helen Gibson, the first woman who dared to be a professional stunt person.
5. Women Who Changed the World (Baby's Big World) - You can be as bold as Cleopatra, a pharaoh of Egypt. Fight for equality like activist Rosa Parks. Decide what’s fair like Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The sky’s the limit in this feminist primer filled with activists, scientists, world leaders, and more. With charming illustrations of familiar figures like Harriet Tubman and Queen Elizabeth I, this little book introduces your child to extraordinary women from around the globe.
Bright, bold colors energize readers to tackle the world with courage, no matter their age, interests, or nationality. Write page-turning stories with Jane Austen, plant trees with Wangari Maathai, and create art with Frida Kahlo. This celebratory board book introduces the next generation of readers to the resilient women who have shaped our world into what it is today. Perfect for inspiring little learners to see themselves as the hero in their story. From Starry Forest Books, Baby’s Big World introduces babies to big concepts―everything from rocket science to music―for the very first time.
6. Think Big, Little One (Vashti Harrison’s Little Ones, 2) - Featuring eighteen women creators, ranging from writers to inventors, artists to scientists, Think Big, Little One introduces trailblazing women like Mary Blair, an American modernist painter who had a major influence on how color was used in early animated films, environmental activist Wangari Maathai, and architect Zaha Hadid. The irresistible full-color illustrations show the Dreamers as both accessible and aspirational so reader knows they, too, can grow up to do something amazing.
7. 100 Women Who Shaped World History: A Feminist Biography Book for Kids 9-12 - From Cleopatra to Joan of Arc, Ada Lovelace to Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart to Rosa Parks and many more, readers will dive into the lives of 100 female artists, activists, scientists, and icons who left their mark on history. Organized chronologically, this thoroughly researched biography collection offers a look at the contributions these women made and how their talents, discoveries, and ideas have helped guide humanity for thousands of years.
8. Brave Little Firsts: The Remarkable Firsts of Women from Around the World - Brave Little Firsts is a children’s book created to share the remarkable firsts of women from around the world. From the first female doctor to the first woman to fly an airplane solo across the Atlantic. In this book of firsts, readers will discover special women who made history by being the first.
9. What Is the Women's Rights Movement? (What Was?) - From Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Gloria Steinem and Hillary Clinton, women throughout US history have fought for equality. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, women were demanding the right to vote. During the 1960s, equal rights and opportunities for women--both at home and in the workplace--were pushed even further. And in the more recent past, Women's Marches have taken place across the world. Celebrate how far women have come with this inspiring read!
10. 20th Century American Women's History for Kids: The Major Events that Shaped the Past and Present -
History books often focus on the things that men have done, but that's only half the story. Covering the period from 1901 to 2000, this journey through American history for kids introduces young learners to the struggles and triumphs of American women through 30 of the most important moments of the 20th century. Over the course of five easily digestible "eras," this book of American history for kids will explore the suffrage movement, the founding of the National Council of Negro Women, the role of Rosie the Riveter in World War II, the appointment of Sandra Day O'Connor to the Supreme Court, and more.
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