Women's History Month was made official in 1987 when Congress designated March as the month to celebrate women's contributions to the world and the ways in which they will continue to contribute. Women, including mothers, activists, and politicians among many others have made huge contributions to the world as we know it and are making gains every day.
These books are some of Goodreads recommends as worthwhile reading for this month devoted to women. You can find the complete Goodreads list here.
The Light of Days - Judy Batalion - This details the story of a group of Jewish women who determined that they had seen enough suffering and that they had to fight back. They became resistance fighters in order to find a way to defeat the Nazis. This is the true story of a group of women who took back the power the Nazis stole from them.
The Woman They Could Not Silence - Kate Moore - Elizabeth Packard was a woman who spoke her mind, regardless of what others thought, including her husband. When Elizabeth is vocal about her feelings on religion her husband, a pastor decides that she has gone too far. He has her placed in the Illinois State Hospital where the resident doctor believes that she is insane. The sad truth is Elizabeth, and many other women in the hospital were put away not because they were mentally ill but as a form of control for "misbehaving".
Hidden Figures: The American Dream & the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race - Margot Lee Shetterly - Hidden within NASA's walls in the midst of the Civil Rights era are a group of black women called "Human Computers" who do all the needed mathematical work to get our first astronauts into space. This story brings to light the hardships the women faced with segregation and being treated as less than.
First: Sandra Day O'Connor - Evan Thomas - Sandra Day O'Connor grew up in a time when women were expected to be housewives and not anything else. O'Connor attended Stanford University and graduated at the top of her law class. She was a strong woman who constantly shattered the glass ceilings presented to her. Sandra Day O' Connor became the first female Supreme Court justice in 1981 when she was appointed by President Ronald Reagan.
The Radium Girls - Kate Moore - In the early 20th century, young women were hired in factories that made clocks and watches that glowed in the dark. The girls are taught that to ensure the crispest of lines they must lick the tip of the brush…despite it having radium on it. Slowly, the women become very sick and ultimately lose their lives. They sued their former employer and saved many lives by having regulations placed to ensure the safety of all workers.
Know My Name - Chanel Miller - Emily Doe was taken to the ER where she slowly came to and had a rape kit administered. She began to piece together what had happened to her as news began to show someone being arrested after being caught raping an unconscious woman…and realized the woman is her. When her rapist is sentenced, Emily reveals herself to Stanford student Chanel Miller and her victim impact statement went viral. In this book, Chanel takes back her identity and her power.