Women’s Rights by Mary Kate Cronin
Women’s rights, feminism, strong female characters, powerful women throughout history. These are all things that are seen more frequently in our society today. We live in a world where men and women are still not as equal as they should be, although that gap is slowly but surely starting to close. Educational opportunities in the United States are more equal for men and woman than in other countries around the world, but it is still extremely important that women are taught at a young age that their opinions and rights are just as important as those of their male peers.
Education in the U.S in the past was thought of as being in two different spheres, one for women and one for men. It was believed that “women should concern themselves with the private sphere of home and children, while men should involve themselves in the public sphere of paid employment outside the home and in the realms of politics and government” (Nash, 2016). But, this is 2018, not 1750, and women are no longer confined to staying at home and taking care of their children. Women can just as easily handle the jobs generally though of as a “man’s job” and learning about women’s rights and what women have achieved in history starts in the classroom.
Women were not always present in education, and “virtually no institution called a college admitted women before the 1830’s. In this regard there was an enormous difference in higher education between men and women” (Nash, 2016). Even as recently as 1975, child support laws obligated parents to take care of male children until the age of 21 but females only until 18 (McBride, 2016). The differences were based on separate assumptions about the needs of males in their proper roles as breadwinners to earn a living and support a family. But now the purpose and outlook of education has changed and is more inclusive to women. Because women’s rights are being given more importance and attention, new doors are opening for women, and children are no longer taught that nurses and teachers are only jobs for females and doctors and CEO’s are only jobs for males.
Although the world is not as equal a place as it should be, “significant gains have been made in terms of gender equality in the last few decades. However, inequality remains. Women continue to earn less than men, driven in part by occupational segregation and by general perceptions about socially constructed gender norms, and young women these days are less likely to identify as feminist” (Treleaven, 2015). It’s important for all of our students, not just females, to treat each other with the respect and acceptance we all deserve. The more our students are educated and made aware that we are all equal and we all deserve the same rights and the same treatment as one another, the more peaceful our world, and our futures, will be.
As a woman it is important to me to be an advocate for equality, especially for my future students. I don’t have a personal story or experience that has opened my eyes to why women’s rights are so important, but simply put, as a woman I know my rights are important, and as a young student I always took pride in reading stories with strong female characters who really made a difference in their world. I would like my students to know that the only gender, and race for that matter, that can make an impact on history and society is not white and male.
Books on women’s rights and powerful women in history should be a staple in our classrooms today. With the number of books on the topic expanding day by day, we could read to and with our students, empowering them to fight for change and equality, in the classroom and in the future in their places of work. Two particular authors that come to mind when addressing the topic of women’s rights are Chelsea Clinton and Andrea Beaty. As the authors of She Persisted, She Persisted Around the World, Rosie Revere, Engineer, and Ada Twist, Scientist, respectively, Clinton and Beaty are writing books about powerful women who are changing the world, geared towards elementary aged students. By reading books like this, our students are being taught that women can be powerful and successful in whatever they choose to pursue. She Persisted and She Persisted Around The World both celebrate women from the United States and all over the globe who have shaped our history through their determination, speaking out against injustices, and most importantly, persistence. Rosie Revere, Engineer and Ada Twist, Scientist tell the stories of two young girls who have dreams of becoming an engineer and scientist and what they have to do to make those dreams come true. All truly uplifting stories about women achieving their dreams and bringing diversity into history, the work place, and the world!
Book Titles
- Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Rosie is a talented and shy engineer who will try anything to make her great-great Aunt Rose’s (Rosie the Riveter) dream of flying come true. Rosie considers herself a failure when her contraption doesn’t work but with her Aunt’s help Rosie realizes the only true failure in life is not trying. This is a high quality text because it addresses the issue of never giving up. Teachers and parents can use this book to teach about women in engineering and how sometimes you need to fail to succeed. This book can also be used to teach the idea that one person’s idea of failure is another person’s success. - Ada Twist Scientist by Andrea Beaty
Ada, classmate of Rosie Revere, loves to question anything and everything. When Ada’s house starts to smell funny, she embarks on a mission of experiments and discovery all in the name of science. Ada soon realizes maybe all her questions won’t be able to be answered but with the support of her family and friends she’ll be able to continue to feed her curiosity like all the great scientists before her.
This is a high quality text because it addresses the issue of diversity and portrays women in science in a very positive light. This book can be used by teachers and parents to address how important diversity, in terms of race and gender, is in the work place and in the classroom. - Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli
Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls is written in the fashion of typical “once upon a time” fairytale. Paired with beautifully colorful illustrations this book features stories and quotes from 100 women throughout history up to present day. Some notable stories include those of Frida Kahlo, Coco Chanel, and Simone Biles.
This is a high quality text because it addresses the idea that women can do anything they set their mind to. It also highlights informative topics like how far women have come in science and politics but in an entertaining story form. Parents and teachers can use this book to discuss important events in history orchestrated by women. This book also addresses the topics of racism, diversity, and women in powerful positions. Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls can also be used to teach young girls that their possibilities are endless, from gymnast to aviator to mathematician. - She Persisted Around the World by Chelsea Clinton
The companion to She Persisted, She Persisted Around the World features the stories of thirteen women from across the globe that have shaped world history into what it is today. Including powerful women like J.K Rowling, Malala Yousafzai, and Marie Curie, She Persisted Around the World is an inspiring read about women in science, the arts, and activism, who have been determined to break barriers and help other women understand just how endless the possibilities in this world are.
This is a high quality text because it highlights powerful women throughout history all around the world. Teachers and parents can use this book to teach the importance of world history. It can also be used to highlight how the strides of women all of over the world are impacting our history in the United States. Malala Yousafzai sets an example for girls all over the world to fight for education, without J.K Rowling we would have never know Harry Potter. People all over the world are contributing to American culture and it’s important that students know that. - The Pink Hat by Andrew Joyner
The Pink Hat is a delightful picture book that follows the journey of a pink knit hat from a tree, to a baby, all the way to a young girl’s head, where she just so happens to be participating in a march for women’s rights. The Pink Hat was inspired by all the men, women, and children who participated in the 2017 Women’s March in 82 countries around the world and demonstrates themes of equality and solidarity throughout it’s wonderfully illustrated pages. This is a high quality text because it addresses feminism and how important equal rights for all are. Teachers and parents can use this book to teach the importance of equal rights. The Pink Hat is also a fun read right before or after the Women’s March has occurred, showing students how relevant the issue of feminism is. - If You Lived When Women Won Their Rights by Anne Kamma
This installment in the If You Lived… series tells the story of women working together to for equal rights, ultimately resulting in women getting the right to vote.
This is a high quality text because it addresses how hard women fought for equal rights and also highlights how much women can achieve when they work together for a common goal. Teachers and parents can use this book to discuss the importance of women working together and supporting each other instead of tearing each other down. This is also an important topic to teach on in a social studies or history class. Women finally getting the right to vote was a momentous victory for United States history and changed the world we live in for the better. - Bad Girls Throughout History by Ann Shen
Bad Girls Throughout History highlights 100 powerful women in history who were “bad” in the best way possible. Including females such as Ada Lovelace, Sojourner Truth, and Joan Jett, Ann Shen writes about women who changed the rules for other women wanting to lead powerful, “bad” lives, with the accompaniment of beautiful illustrations. This is a high quality text because the biographical information teaches children that going against the popular opinion is sometimes the best thing you can do if you want to stand out. Parents and teachers can use this book to highlight how important it is for children to be their own person and not follow the crowd. Individuality is such an important lesson for children to learn and Bad Girls illustrates how these powerful women made a name for themselves by being unique. - I Am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer
One book in Brad Meltzer’s biographical series on historic figures, I Am Rosa Parks tells the story of the titular activist and how she stood up against segregation and helped start the country’s Civil Rights Movement. This is a high quality text because it illustrates the importance of fighting for equality and how positive the world can be if we all fight for change. Parents and teachers can use this book to teach about the Civil Rights Movement and how important that era in time was, and still is, for equality in our country. This is also an important text for teaching children how to be brave in the face of opposition. - Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky
As the STEM field continues to grow Women in Science celebrates the contributions of 50 women in history to the fields of science and technology. This book also includes informational pages such as glossaries and current statistics on women working in the STEM field today. This is a high quality text because it highlights women in science and how important the discoveries by women in science are.
Parents and teachers can use this book as an example of how far women have come in the STEM field. STEM is really popular in schools right now and it’s important that students, especially young girls, know that women are just as big a part of our country’s history in science as men are. - For The Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story by Rebecca Langston-George
Malala Yousafzai spoke out against Taliban rule and almost lost her life because of it. Fighting for the right to an education, one powerful young girl refused to be silent and ultimately became the youngest individual nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is a high quality text because it displays the importance of women in education. For The Right to Learn is also an important text because it shows readers that there is no age limit on making a difference and anyone can fight for change as long as they’re determined. This book can be used by parents and teachers to illustrate how important it is that everyone has equal educational opportunities. It can also be used to show students how fortunate they are to live in a country where girls and boys all have the right to free public education. - Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison
Telling the stories of women like Katherine Johnson and Maya Angelou, Little Leaders shows readers that women, and more specifically women of color, can make a difference in a world where they may not always be accepted. Paired with beautiful illustrations this book highlights the stories of women of color from all walks of life who wanted to make a difference for themselves and future generations of women to come. This is a high quality text because it displays the idea of diversity among women, it also shows how powerful women of color have been throughout history and up to present day. This book can be used by parents and teachers to discuss how important women of color have been in shaping our world into what it is today. - Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone
When Elizabeth Blackwell was growing up women were wives and mothers, but of course there were no female doctors. Elizabeth refused to accept this as her lot in life and worked hard to become a doctor, opening the doors in the medical field for women everywhere. This is a high quality text because it shows readers that working hard in the face of opposition is worth the work. It also displays how far women have come in the medical field. Parents and teachers can use this book to discuss the strides of women in the work place, specifically the medical field. Women went from being stay at home wives to doctors and surgeons and possibilities for women continue to grow today and it’s important that younger generations of students know how endless these possibilities are. - Miss Paul and the President: The Creative Campaign for Women’s Right to Vote by Dean Robbins
After seeing her father vote while her mother sat at home, Alice Paul would stop at nothing until something changed. From writing letters to meeting with the President, Alice persevered until women finally had the right to vote. Miss Paul and the President shows readers just how important it is that everyone has the right to vote and all the hard work put in by driven women who earned those rights for us.
This is a high quality text because it addresses the issue of women getting the right to vote and persevering until they got that right. Parents and teachers can use this book to discuss how important it is to vote because women didn’t always have that right. Voting in any kind of election shapes our future and it’s important that children know that women have just as much say in how that future will be shaped as anyone else. - I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy
The first picture book made telling Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life story, I Dissent proves to readers that “disagreeing does not make you disagreeable!” Ruth fought hard for her position on the Supreme Court and spent most of her life standing up for people everywhere, even if that meant having the unpopular opinion sometimes. This is a high quality text because it addresses the topic of women in politics. Given that our most recent presidential election was between a man and a woman, this book can be used by parents and teachers to set an example as to how many opportunities women have made for themselves in politics. - Sally Heathcote, Suffragette by Mary M. Talbot
This graphic novel tells the story of Sally Heathcote, a housemaid who fights for feminism and women’s rights in 20th century Britain. Accompanied by true graphic novel style illustrations, Sally’s story is one of oppression, hope, and ultimately, powerless people getting a voice among the powerful. This is a high quality text because it illustrates the struggles of women in another country. This title is also a graphic novel. Graphic novels are becoming increasingly popular among young students and adults today so it’s a great idea to include high interest text genres in the classroom. Parents and teachers can use this novel to illustrate the fact that the fight for women’s rights was not only isolated to the United States. Women didn’t always have the rights we have today and it’s because of women like Sally Heathcote, and other brave women all over the world, that we have the rights we do.
Teaching Example
This collection of books can be used in grades 2-4 to teach about women’s rights in many ways. One way in particular would be to gather a few titles from this list that address the issues of women and women’s rights in other countries for a social studies lesson. Titles used to teach how widespread the topic of women fighting for equality is, teachers can use Sally Heathcote, Suffragette, For The Right to Learn: Malala Yousafzai’s Story, She Persisted Around the World, The Pink Hat, and Bad Girls Throughout History. Each of these titles illustrates how women across the globe have responded to issues like intolerance, unequal education, racism, and how they’ve come together to march against those things.
All of these books will be read aloud to students and they will be instructed to choose one out of the five books for this assignment. Students will then complete a KWL on their chosen title. What did they already know about the book they chose or the main character? What do they want to know about Malala’s story? What do they want to know about Sally Heathcote and how she fought intolerance? Finally, what did they learn? Did they learn that women’s struggles in other countries were similar to those of American women? Did they learn how different education is in other parts of the world? Were they surprised by how many other countries participate in the Women’s March? Through this assignment it will be brought to students’ attention just how big a part women all over the world have played in shaping our history.
Sources
McBride, D. E., & Parry, J. A. (2016). Women’s rights in the USA: Policy debates and
gender roles. Routledge.
Nash, M. (2016). Women’s education in the United States, 1780-1840. Springer.
Treleaven, C. (2015). Gender, Generation, and Jobs: Differences in Gender Role
Ideologies by Age and Occupation.
The Children's Literature Forum 