Do one thing every day that scares you.
Eleanor Roosevelt
(Inter)National Women’s History Month Reading Challenge
Indulge in Women’s History Month by reading about some amazing women!
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Eleanor Roosevelt
International Women’s Day 2020
I only found out a few years ago that International Women’s Day has a new theme every year. Did you know there is an annual theme?
This year’s theme is ‘ I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights. According to the UN, this theme is aligned with their new multigenerational campaign: Generation Equality. This is also the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The UN’s observance of International Women’s Day will be held in NYC on Friday March 6th, 2020, 10 – 1300.
If you’d be interested in connecting through the power of hashtags, these are the ones that will be trending for the cause: #IWD2020 – #GenerationEquality – #InternationalWomensDay – #EachForEqual
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Books About Badass Women in History
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of American’s Shining Women, 2017 – Kate Moore
The amount of heartbreak and heroism in this book is off the charts. I read it in one sitting, but there were definitely a few breaks needed to process this intense history. Women’s teeth and pieces of jaw were falling out and causing fatal infections. Their bones were fuzing together, becoming brittle, and their medical needs caused massive debt and inconveniences to many families. It all stemmed from the radium in the luminescent paint used to apply on watches. Their concerns of health issues, and questions regarding work process & materials safety were dismissed, even when legally fought.
It’s a story every woman should know.
The Beginning and End of Rape: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America, 2015 – Sarah Deer
As a Lenapé woman, this book is important to me in a more intimate way. Murdered and missing indigenous women is a very real, and still very current, problem. It does not receive the attention it needs to. I’m an admirer of Sarah Deer and her work is insightful to the indigenous community.
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China, 2013 – Jung Chang
This is a badass lady. Her son became the emperor of China at an incredibly young age and it gave her a unique opportunity to influence politics. She not only gave China the momentum to enter a new era of modernity through railways, electricity, and updated the Chinese military, but she laid the foundation for women. Cixi ended footbinding and took steps towards voter rights. She did all this while standing against the misogynistic current that was the Chinese government. Chang’s book is educational and enlightening. She does a fabulous job showcasing the tension, patience, and grace of every person’s role and situation.
Marie Stopes and the Sexual Revolution, 2019 – June Rose
Marie was a botanist, but might be more well-known for her contributions to the power of birth control. In 1918, she published two books, ‘Married Love’ and ‘Wise Parenthood’. Women armed with sexual education and access to contraceptives initiated a shift in power. They had control of their bodies, were able to plan pregnancies better and explore the sexual self.
Unbowed: A Memoir, 2008 – Wangari Maathai
Wangari was such a phenomenal woman and leaves behind a magnificent legacy. She was an environmental and political activist. The first African woman and environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize, is only the tip of the iceberg of her amazing accomplishments. She’s the author of several books, as well.
The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience, 2003
The Challenge for Africa, 2009
Replenishing the Earth: Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the World, 2010
Nellie Bly: Daredevil. Reporter. Feminist., 2013 – Brooke Kroeger
Nellie is on my list of personal heroines. She’s a crazy, badass b*tch. She faked being insane so she could experience and expose the horrible conditions of asylums; traveled around the world in seventy-two days; reported from the eastern front during WWI. Along with many other fascinating and ridiculous experiences, Nellie is a woman worth getting to know.
Ten Days In a Mad House (Bly’s work published from 1864 – 1922)
Indira Gandhi: A Biography, 1997 – Pupul Jayakar
Indira was the daughter of India’s first Prime Minister and spent her life surrounded by politics. She became the first, and only, female Prime Minister to serve India. Before her terms as Prime Minister, she traveled throughout India, especially to more rural areas to mobilize women into politics and find out about family healthcare and local trade. She was assassinated during her third term in 1984.
Honouring High Places: The Mountain Life of Junko Tabei, 2017 – Junko Tabai, with Helen Y. Rolfe
She created a women’s climbing club in Japan in the 60’s with the slogan, “Let’s Go On An Overseas Expedition by Ourselves.” In 1975, she summited Mt. Everest with the first-ever all female team. And, in 1992, was the first woman to complete all Seven Summits. (Kilimanjaro, Vinson, Puncak Jaya/Kosciuszko, Mt. Everest, Denali, Mauna Kea, Aconcagua.)
Have you heard of any of these women? Let me know what you’re reading from this list!
Who are you focused on learning more about this Women’s History Month?
Find more reading lists on the blog (<- link)!
Been needing new books to read. What a great list!
Thank you! I hope you’ve found something.
I had no idea that there was a different theme each year. Thanks so much for sharing
Yeah! I like that there is a theme. Puts a different purpose/perspective behind it each year.