Last month Kamala Harris made history when she took the oath of office to become our country’s first woman (and first Black woman and first Asian American) Vice President. The theme for this year’s Women’s History Month: Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced recognizes women’s contributions in politics. The theme for 2021 continues the centennial celebration of the 19th Amendment that began in 2020.
Women’s History Month is an annual celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture, society, and politics. Women in the United States make up a little over half our population, earn 57% of college degrees annually, and only earn 82 cents to every $1 a man earns.
EVPL will recognize Women’s History Month during March with booklists, informational videos, displays, and more. To start your reading list for this month, we have provided some titles below. If you are interested in other recommendations, please visit evpl.org or call 812.428.8200 to learn more.
For Kids
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
When young Mae Jemison is asked by her teacher what she wants to be when she grows up, African American Mae tells her mostly white classmates that she wants to be an astronaut, a dream that her parents wholeheartedly support.
Who Is Kamala Harris? by Kirsten Anderson
As a politician, Kamala Harris has been a vocal champion of progressive reforms and women’s rights. This exciting story details the defining moments of what led to her nomination and all the monumental ones since that have shaped her career and the future of America
Finish the Fight!: the Brave and Revolutionary Women who Fought for the Right to Vote by the Staff of The New York Times, including Veronica Chambers
On the hundredth anniversary of the historic win for women’s rights, it’s time to celebrate the names and stories of the women whose stories have yet to be told.
For Teens
Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
In a small Texas town where high school football reigns supreme, Viv, sixteen, starts a feminist revolution using anonymously-written zines.
Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan
Frustrated by the way women are treated–even at their progressive New York City high school–two best friends start a Women’s Rights Club, post their essays and poems online, and watch it go viral, attracting positive support as well as trolls.
For Adults
Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia
Three generations of a family of Cuban expatriates play out their dreams and dramas in Havana, Brooklyn, and by the Cuban seaside.
My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The first book from Ruth Bader Ginsburg since becoming a Supreme Court Justice in 1993–a witty, engaging, serious, and playful collection of writings and speeches from the woman who has had a powerful and enduring influence on law, women’s rights, and popular culture.
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor
An instant American icon–the first Hispanic on the U.S. Supreme Court–tells the story of her life before becoming a judge in an inspiring, surprisingly personal memoir.
These descriptions and more information can be found in the EVPL catalog.
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To celebrate Women’s History Month, take part in our Reading Challenge! This challenge celebrates female change-makers and their groundbreaking historical contributions to society.
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For more titles to check out during Women’s History Month, visit this curated collection of eBook and eAudiobooks available via OverDrive or Libby.
