In honor of Women’s History Month in March, we are sharing books by women who have shaped history and have fought for their communities. Our list includes books about women who fought for racial justice, abortion rights, disability justice, equality in the workplace, and more, with insight on their remarkable lives that inspired others to embrace equality.
Books for Women’s History Month
By Coll Rowe | January 30 2024 | HistoryGender and Sexuality Studies
Explores the Black activist’s ideas and political strategies, highlighting their relevance for tackling modern social issues including voter suppression, police violence, and economic inequality.
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > African American
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Race, Class, and Gender
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Politics
- Sociology > Social Change > Social Change
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The instant New York Times bestseller from one of the nation’s foremost legal commentators, which tells the gripping and heroic story of the women lawyers who fought the racism, sexism, and xenophobia of Donald Trump’s presidency—and won.
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Law
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > Legal History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Sociology of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Politics
- Political Science > American Government and Politics > Political Parties and Interest Groups
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Civil Rights
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Feminist Law
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Lawyering
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Legal History
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Sex Discrimination
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Sexuality and Gender
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Here is a captivating biography of the remarkable young Scotswoman whose bold decision to help “Bonnie” Prince Charlie—the Stuart claimant to the British throne—evade capture and flee the country has become the stuff of legend.
Fearless essays that reclaim the work and words of Black women activists, abolitionists, and movement makers who have long fought for liberation and justice—from a beloved Teen Vogue columnist and an essential new voice in Black feminism.
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Political Thought
- History > U.S. History > African American
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Race, Class, and Gender
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Sociology of Women
- Political Science > Introduction to Political Science > Political Theory and Thought
- Sociology > Race / Class / Gender > Gender Studies
- Sociology > Race / Class / Gender > Race Relations
- Sociology > Social Change > Social Change
- Sociology > Social Change > Social Movements and Collective Behavior
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The first biography of Dorothy Pitman Hughes, co-founder of Ms. Magazine and trailblazing Black feminist activist whose work made children, race, and welfare rights central to the women’s movement.
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > African American
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Politics
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New York City, 1929. A sanatorium, a deadly disease, and a dire nursing shortage. Spanning the Great Depression and moving through World War II and beyond, this remarkable true story follows the intrepid young women known by their patients as the “Black Angels.”
- History > Period History: U.S. > America in the 20th Century (1900-1945)
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > African American
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Health
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Work
- Healthcare Professions > Medical Sciences: Basic > Epidemiology
- Healthcare Professions > Medical Sciences: Clinical > Epidemiology
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Here is the first major biography of one of our most influential judges—an activist lawyer who became the first Black woman appointed to the federal judiciary—that provides an eye-opening account of the twin struggles for gender equality and civil rights in the 20th Century.
- History > Period History: U.S. > Civil Rights Movement (1940-1968)
- History > U.S. History > African American
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > U.S. Constitutional History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Political Science > American Government and Politics > Constitutional Law
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Civil Rights
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The first definitive exploration of the role of the twenty-first century First Lady, painting a comprehensive portrait of Jill Biden and the evolution of the First Lady’s role from ceremonial figurehead to political operative—from a White House correspondent for The New York Times.
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year for Nonfiction
One of the most influential disability rights activists in US history tells her personal story of fighting for the right to receive an education, have a job, and just be human.
- Education > Special Education > Physical Disabilities
- English > Comparative Literature > Disability Literature
- History > Period History: U.S. > America in the 20th Century (1945-2000)
- History > Period History: U.S. > America in the 21st Century
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Disability
- History > Topical History > History of Law
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > Legal History
- History > U.S. History > U.S. Cultural History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Social Science > American Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Social Science > Disability Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Race, Class, and Gender
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Sociology of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Health
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Politics
- Political Science > American Government and Politics > Social Welfare Policy
- Social Work > Social Welfare > History of Social Welfare
- Social Work > Social Welfare > Social Welfare Policy
- Sociology > Social Change > Disability Studies
- Sociology > Social Institutions > Sociology of Health / Medicine
- Student Success and Career Development > Student Success > First-Year Experience
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Disability Law
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Introduction to Law
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Legislation
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Paralegal Studies > Introduction to Law
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An enlightening linguistic journey through a thousand years of feminist language—and what we can learn from the vivid vocabulary that English once had for women’s bodies, experiences, and sexuality.
- Anthropology > Cultural and Social Anthropology > Linguistic Anthropology
- Communication > Mass Communication > Media and Society
- English > Comparative Literature > Feminist Theory and Literary Criticism
- English > Comparative Literature > Women in Literature
- English > Composition > First-Year Composition – Rhetoric
- English > Literature > Women and Literature
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Gender and Communication
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Sociology of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Philosophy
- Religion > Special Topics > Women in Religion
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A celebration of Ms.—the most startling, most audacious, most norm-breaking of the magazine’s groundbreaking pieces on women, men, politics (sexual and otherwise), marriage, family, education, work, motherhood, reproductive rights, as well as the best of the magazine’s fiction, poetry, and letters.
- Communication > Journalism > News Writing and Reporting
- Communication > Journalism > Specialized Courses
- English > Comparative Literature > Feminist Theory and Literary Criticism
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
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This is a neglected history. Not a sweeping, definitive, exhaustive history of the world but something quieter, more intimate and particular: a single journey, picked out in 101 objects, through the fascinating, manifold, and too often overlooked histories of women.
Two pioneering feminists present a groundbreaking collection recovering a generation’s revolutionary insights, bold ideas that in some ways went underground, but are ready to inspire a new generation.
- English > Literature > Women and Literature
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Gender in America
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Gender and Sexuality
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Sociology of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Politics
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A “heartening inspiration”(The New York Times), Young and Restless is the untold story of the people who have helped spark America’s most transformative social movements throughout history: teenage girls.
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Politics
- Sociology > Social Change > Social Movements and Collective Behavior
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The powerful story of the women who founded and ran the legendary Chicago reproductive rights organization Abortion Counseling Service, otherwise known as Jane, written by one of its members. A compelling testament to a woman’s most essential freedom—control over her own body—and to the power of women helping women.
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Health
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Politics
- Health and Kinesiology > Health > Women's Health
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Black women physicians’ stories have gone untold for far too long, leaving gaping holes in American medical history, in women’s history, and in Black history. It’s time to set the record straight.
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Medicine
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > African American
- History > U.S. History > History of Medicine
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Sociology of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Work
- Healthcare Professions > Medical Sciences > History of Medicine
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A collection of essential writings from the iconic foremother of Black women’s intellectual history, feminism, and activism, who helped pave the way for modern social justice movements like Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name.
- Education > Foundations > History of Education
- English > Comparative Literature > Feminist Theory and Literary Criticism
- English > Comparative Literature: American > African American Non-Fiction
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Race, Class, and Gender
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Sociology of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Politics
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A gripping story of a family tragedy brought about by witch-hunting in Puritan New England that combines history, anthropology, sociology, politics, theology and psychology.
- Anthropology > Cultural and Social Anthropology > Anthropology of Religion
- History > Period History: U.S. > Colonial American History (1492 - 1776)
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Religion
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > Religious History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Religion > Comparative Religion > American Religions
- Religion > Introduction to Religion > History of Religion
- Sociology > Social Institutions > Sociology of Religion
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Available in English for the first time, the latest astonishing, bestselling, and award-winning book by Annie Ernaux.
- English > Comparative Literature > Literature by Women
- English > Comparative Literature: European > French
- English > Literature > Women and Literature
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Introduction to Women's Studies
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Sociology of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Literature
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A riveting and previously untold history of the American West, as seen by the pioneering women who advocated for their rights amidst challenges of migration and settlement, and transformed the country in the process.
- History > Period History: U.S. > America in the 19th Century
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > State and Local
- History > U.S. History > U.S. Cultural History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Politics
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Work
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Nell McShane Wulfhart crafts a rousing narrative of female empowerment, the paradigm-shifting ’60s and ’70s, the labor movement, and the cadre of gutsy women who fought for their rights—and won.
- Business > General Business > Business and Society
- Management > Human Resource Management > Labor Relations
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > U.S. Labor History
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Civil Rights
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Employment and Labor Law
- Legal and Paralegal Studies > Legal Studies > Labor Law
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A vibrant and empowering history that emphasizes the perspectives and stories of African American women to show how they are—and have always been—instrumental in shaping our country.
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of African-Americans
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > African American
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Race and Ethnic Studies > African American Studies
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The groundbreaking feminist and socialist writings of Puerto Rican author and activist Luisa Capetillo.
- English > Comparative Literature > Feminist Theory and Literary Criticism
- English > Comparative Literature: American > Puerto Rican Nonfiction
- English > Comparative Literature: Latin American and Caribbean > Caribbean
- History > Race and Gender Studies > History of Women in America
- History > Regional History: Latin America and Caribbean > Puerto Rico
- History > Topical History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > History of Women
- History > U.S. History > U.S. Labor History
- Interdisciplinary Studies > Women's and Gender Studies > Women and Work
- Sociology > Social Change > Social Movements and Collective Behavior
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The forgotten story of a pioneering group of five Black ballerinas and their fifty-year sisterhood, a legacy erased from history—until now.
Born into a “formerly untouchable manual-scavenging family in small-town India,” Yashica Dutt was taught from a young age to not appear “Dalit looking.” Although prejudice against Dalits, who compose 25% of the population, has been illegal since 1950, caste-ism in India is alive and well. Blending her personal history with extensive research and reporting, Dutt
Read moreIn Black Women Taught Us: An Intimate History of Black Feminism, Jenn M. Jackson, PhD, sets the record straight about Black women’s longtime movement organizing, theorizing, and coalition building in the name of racial, gender, and sexual justice in the United States and abroad. Based in part on a course they teach at Syracuse University,
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