WOMEN

Margaret Chase Smith and Eleanor Roosevelt duked it out for their political parties.

The First-Ever Televised Presidential Debate Was Between Two Women

In 1956, two highly-regarded party figures stepped in for candidates Eisenhower and Stevenson to tackle election issues.

11 Women Horror Writers You Need to Read

Women have written some of the most blood-curdlingly scary stories of all time, but they haven’t always gotten the credit they deserve. Explore some delightfully spooky Halloween reading from 11 masters of horror literature.

Simone Biles has five gymnastics skills named for her.

11 Female Gymnasts With Skills Named After Them

At the Olympics, some athletes will be performing tried and true moves. Others might be throwing new skills that will one day bear their names.

James Baldwin, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and George Takei.

15 Inspiring Quotes from LGBTQ+ Leaders

These memorable quotes from LGBTQ+ leaders—on everything from intersectionality to being an ally—will ring true all year round.

The Gen Z idol has been in the spotlight ever since her break-out role on Disney’s "Shake It Up."

9 Fascinating Facts About Zendaya

From her status as a Kidz Bop alumna to the real meaning behind her name, there's probably a lot of facts about Zendaya that you don't know about.

10 Iconic Movies That Pass the Bechdel Test

From “Alien” to “Gone with the Wind,” some classic movies you might not expect actually do manage to pass the Bechdel test.

Why Do We Call a President’s Wife “First Lady”?

Presidents have had a lot of titles and nicknames, but the wife of every president has one common honorific. Why do we call her “first lady”?

Princess Diana and Prince Harry in 1987.

25 of History’s Greatest Moms

To celebrate Mother’s Day on May 12, 2024, here are 25 of history’s greatest moms.

The cover of Louisa May Alcott’s ‘Little Women.’

11 Fascinating Facts About Louisa May Alcott’s ‘Little Women’

“Little Women” is one of the world's most beloved novels—but Louisa May Alcott only wrote it to help her father get a publishing contract.

When Drinking Too Much Tea Could Get a Woman Sent to a Psychiatric Hospital

If you were a woman in the 19th century, virtually anything could get you committed to a psychiatric hospital—including drinking too much tea.

Illustration of William Shakespeare Reciting Hamlet to His Family

William Shakespeare’s Sister, Joan, Emerges in Long-Lost Writings

A fascinating new discovery has emerged about a pamphlet found in the rafters of William Shakespeare’s childhood home.

10 Women You Probably Didn’t Know Were in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Discover these lesser-known but still highly accomplished female musicians that have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, like Ma Rainey and LaVern Baker.

Leona Libby, the Pioneering Nuclear Physicist Who Helped Build the Atomic Bomb

To win a nuclear arms race, Leona Libby hid a pregnancy and brushed off being irradiated.

Agatha Christie, Surfing Pioneer

A lesser-known fact about the famed crime novelist: She was a beach bum.

6 Facts About International Women’s Day

What has come to be known as International Women’s Day has been celebrated for more than 100 years.

Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the trailblazers who fought for equality and forever changed the world for the better.

13 Facts About Women’s History Month

Find out everything you need to know about the origins of Women's History Month, including how it went from a daylong celebration born from a socialist idea to a monthlong institution in the United States.

You can thank Letitia Mumford Geer for this.

Remembering Letitia Mumford Geer, the Nurse Who Invented the One-Handed Syringe

The syringes used by medical professionals today can be traced back to her 1899 patent.

Elizabeth Freeman, the Formerly Enslaved Woman Who Successfully Sued for Her Freedom

The courts ruled that the newly passed Massachusetts Constitution guaranteed that Freeman was indeed a free woman.

8 Things You Might Not Know About Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is one of the most acclaimed actresses in Hollywood history. Discover how this Oscar-winning star got her start—and how her first Academy Award ended up on a bathroom floor.

Elizabeth Fry, the 'Angel of Prisons'

Elizabeth Fry championed prison reform, particularly for women and children, in 19th-century England.

Why Do We Call Them Bobby Pins?

There’s a surprisingly rich history at the root of this hair accessory.

Average Life Expectancies Have More Than Doubled Over the Past 70 Years—Here's Why

In 1900, the global average life expectancy was around 32 years old. Today, it's 71. How did this happen?

Astronaut Kellie Gerardi conducts research aboard the Virgin Galactic spacecraft.

“Humanity’s Next Giant Leap”: Citizen Astronaut Kellie Gerardi Envisions the Future of Spaceflight

Bioastronautics researcher Kellie Gerardi envisions a future when space is open to all.

Actress Bernice Golden as Tess in David Belasco’s stage production of ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles,’ c. 1903.

Remembering Elizabeth Martha Brown, the Convict Who Inspired Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’

Thomas Hardy’s memorable heroine was modeled after the last woman to be hanged in Dorset, England.