WOMEN

11 Things You Should Know About Audre Lorde

Audre Lorde’s poems, speeches, and books helped write the future of feminism. Here are some facts about the woman behind the work.

Agent 355: The American Revolution’s Most Mysterious Female Spy

The spy thriller 'The 355' gets its title from a Culper Spy Ring agent known only as “355.” Who was she?

Tompkins Harrison Matteson's 1853 painting Examination of a Witch, which depicts the 17th-century investigation of Mary Fisher in New England.

Catalonia Is Posthumously Pardoning More Than 700 Victims of Its Witch Trials

Europe’s witch trials spanned several hundred years and claimed thousands of innocent lives. Catalonia is making symbolic amends.

Ida B. Wells Is Mattel’s Latest ‘Inspiring Women’ Barbie Doll

Who was Ida B. Wells? A journalist, suffragist, civil rights leader, and now the latest doll in Barbie’s ‘Inspiring Women’ series.

Maya Angelou at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 2010.

Maya Angelou Is Now the First Black Woman to Appear on a U.S. Quarter

The U.S. Mint has officially shipped its Maya Angelou quarters—earning the ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ author another “first” to her name.

The magician P. T. Selbit performing a sawing a woman in half trick.

The Magician and the Suffragette: The Strange History of Sawing a Woman in Half

The magic trick of sawing a woman in half was first performed a century ago by P.T. Selbit, a British magician.

10 of the Best Gifts to Give This Holiday Season From Women-Owned Businesses

Discover 10 of the best gifts to give loved ones this holiday season from women-owned businesses like Ruggable and Parachute.

Norway's Martinsen Marielle Elisabeth Mathisen mid-play during the 2018 World Cup final against Greece.

Women’s Beach Handball Players No Longer Have to Compete in Bikini-Style Bottoms

Months after the Norwegian women’s beach handball team protested the bikini mandate, the International Handball Federation has updated its rules.

The Mystery Model In Gustave Courbet's Most Scandalous Painting

For many years, the nude model for Gustave Courbet's 'L’Origine du monde' remained unknown.

Josephine Baker Will Be the First Black Woman Buried in Paris’s Panthéon

Paris’s Panthéon houses graves for just five women. Josephine Baker—star, spy, and civil rights activist—is about to become the sixth.

12 Illuminating Facts About Mary Cassatt

Mary Cassatt, known for her intimate paintings of mothers and children, was the only American artist invited to join the French Impressionists.

Kerri Walsh Jennings during a match against Brazil at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Why Do So Many Female Athletes Compete in Bikini-Style Uniforms?

Women’s beach volleyball players aren’t the only Olympic athletes who compete in bikini-style uniforms. But do they have to?

San Francisco's Antique Vibrator Museum Chronicles the Fascinating, 150-Year History of Vibrators

Attached to one of San Francisco’s Good Vibrations stores is a museum dedicated to the surprisingly long history of vibrators.

Clara Barton photographed by Charles R. B. Claflin in 1865.

The Library of Congress Needs Your Help Transcribing Clara Barton's Diaries, Correspondences, and Other Rarely Seen Papers

Who was Clara Barton, really? Transcribing her personal documents can help shed light on a complex question.

Which historical women deserve a tiny, metallic likeness?

Which Trailblazing Women Should Be Featured on Quarters? The U.S. Mint Wants Your Suggestions

Sally Ride and Maya Angelou are the first two honorees, but you can help decide which other important women from history to feature on the collectible coins.

10 Juicy Facts About Mary Astor’s Purple Diary, Old Hollywood's Most Infamous Sex Scandal

Mary Astor and her 'Purple Diary' were the center of a Hollywood scandal so big, it knocked news of Hitler off the front page.

What's the Difference Between Men's and Women's Razors?

Men's razors aren't necessarily better than women's razors, but they are different (and not just because they aren't pink).

Eliza Carpenter was among the racers in the Land Run of 1893.

Eliza Carpenter, the Black Jockey Who Made Horse Racing History

While women jockeys face obstacles, perhaps none has faced the level of challenge that Eliza Carpenter did.

In September 2020, Google honored Jackie Ormes with a Google Doodle by artist Liz Montague.

6 Facts About Jackie Ormes, the First Black Woman Cartoonist

Jackie Ormes was a trailblazer for Black women cartoonists. Find out more about her life, legacy, and the doll that made history.

A shelf full of booze was no match for Carrie A. Nation's hatchet.

Carrie A. Nation, the Woman Who Attacked Alcoholism With a Hatchet

When it came to eliminating alcohol and shuttering saloons, Carrie A. Nation truly did have a smashing time.

It's not just about pelvic pain or bad periods.

6 Common Misconceptions About Endometriosis

There’s a lot of confusion about endometriosis symptoms, treatment, and other basics. We spoke to a specialist to set the record straight.

Jane Austen's House in Chawton, Hampshire.

PBS Is Hosting a Virtual Tour of Jane Austen’s House

Jane Austen’s books were all written in the Hampshire house, which is now a time capsule of her life there.

11 Facts About Donna Shirley, the First Woman to Manage a NASA Program

Donna Shirley made space history in the 1990s as the first woman to manage a NASA program. She led both the Mars Exploration Program and the team that built Sojourner, the first rover to land on the Red Planet.

Blue Staid ’Dos: How Blue Became Old Ladies’ Hair Color of Choice

Platinum blonde locks were first popularized by Jean Harlow, but older women quickly co-opted the trend.

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