About Women's History

Mary McLeod Bethune

2009-07-10T20:17:31Z

Mary McLeod Bethune is known for her work providing educational opportunities for African Americans, and she also served as a government official during the New Deal and as founder and president of the National Council of Negro Women.

Mary McLeod Bethune
Courtesy Library of Congress

Her statue in Washington, DC, was the first statue depicting any woman or African American in any park in the nation's capital. Her home is a National Historic Landmark. Mary McLeod Bethune was born July 10, 1875.

Simone Weil Quotes

2009-07-09T08:05:03Z

Simone Weil, born to an assimilated Jewish family in France, was a religious mystic, professor of philosophy, and social justice activist. When the Nazis occupied France, Weil escaped and ended up in London -- where she decided to express her solidarity with those living under Nazi rule by eating only the amount of food she thought was allowed to average citizens by the Nazis. Her poor nutrition likely hastened her death in a TB sanitorium.

Her works did not become widely known until the 1950s and 1960s. In this multi-page collection of Simone Weil quotes, I've attempted to give a flavor of her writings.

Simone Weil Quotes

Wordless Wednesday - Supportive Women

2009-07-08T07:33:14Z

Caryatids
iStockphoto / sagaYago

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Related images:

Watermarks - A Review

2009-07-07T06:46:56Z

A few years ago, I saw one of the most powerful documentaries I've seen in a long time. You can now find it in recordings. If you're interested in women's history, in women's sports, in Holocaust or Jewish history, or in a story of the triumph of hope over evil, this movie packs a powerful message. You'll learn about the story of women swimmers of Austria's Jewish sports club, Hakoah, founded to provide opportunities for Jewish athletes who were excluded by law from Austrian clubs.

Seeing the film with family members of one of the featured women was special, but the interviews and the flow of the movie make all the women really come alive even without such a connection. Thus, their experiences become more real. When someone subtly insults one of the women, the impact is personal -- it's not just an image on a screen.

It's always a challenge with documentaries about the Nazi era to make the vastness of the horror real; by learning more about the lives of these women, the impact on the ordinary Jews of the 1930s becomes more real to audiences of today.

Books on Body Image and Women's History

2009-07-06T15:51:47Z

How women view and value their bodies has changed over time. These books examine the history of body image and how culture shapes ideas of women's beauty -- useful perspective in dealing with body image and self-esteem issues among girls and women today. There are other good books on body image and beauty culture today from a personal perspective; these books include the best historical analysis.

Words of Wisdom from Women Presidents and Prime Ministers

2009-07-02T08:13:17Z

Women have been presidents and prime ministers of many nations, beginning in the mid-20th century. Here are some collections of quotes from some of the women who've held this high office in their nations:

Wordless Wednesday - Hand Drill Operator

2009-07-01T03:18:47Z

From a public domain image, U.S. Office of War Information, Alfred T. Palmer, photographer, 1942.

More Wordless Wednesday:

Monstrous Females of Classical Mythology

2009-06-29T04:32:56Z

In Greek and Roman mythology, female images include the goddesses -- with many different personalities -- and other figures, ranging from the Graces and Muses to nymphs and sirens to furies and harpies. Learn more about some of the monstrous female images used in Greek and Roman mythology, two groups usually depicted as triads, who are sometimes confused:

Women Prime Ministers and Presidents

2009-06-26T05:39:04Z

How many women have served as Presidents or Prime Ministers in the 20th century? How many can you name? Some were highly controversial; some were compromise candidates. Some presided over peace; others over war. Some were elected; some were appointed. Some served briefly; others were elected; one, though elected, was prevented from serving. Many followed into office their fathers or husbands; others were elected or appointed on their own reputations and political contributions. One even followed her mother into politics, and her mother served a third term as prime minister, filling the office left vacant when the daughter took office as president!

Women Prime Ministers and Presidents

Books on Women Environmentalists

2009-06-25T11:43:38Z

Women have been visible figures leading the environmentalist movement in many of its aspects. Rachel Carson, Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall are well known for their observations about the natural world and their contributions to saving a world that is safe for people and their primate cousins to live in. Here is a selection of books about women naturalists, ecologists, and environmentalists.