7 Ways to Talk to Your Daughter About Women’s History

Women’s History Month is a great time to bond with your daughter. It’s a time of reflection and learning, but starting those conversations might seem challenging. Use these ideas as inspiration to talk to your daughter about women’s history and learn something new this year.

1. Discuss Historical Figures

Kids learn about male-centered history in school every day. They memorize presidential accomplishments, daring feats during wars and which inventions men contributed to society.

Women’s history requires a bit more research. Women weren’t always allowed to obtain the education, finances and personal freedom to record their names in history books. Instead, it’s up to every person to seek their roles in research and conversation.

Talk to your daughter about important figures in women’s history and what they did, like:

• Josephine Baker: She was a World War II spy and civil rights activist who fought for the country and racial equity in the 20th century.

• Temple Grandin: She was an autistic woman who created the “hug machine” used to relieve stress and panic to this day.

• Agnodice: She was an unofficial doctor who helped pregnant patients by dressing as a man until she and others influenced a change in Greek laws to let women practice medicine.

2. Research Current Leaders

It’s also important to recognize the work women are doing today. They’re currently changing the world by pushing boundaries and setting new standards. Take your daughter out to lunch to talk about influential female figures like:

• Oleksandra Matviichuk: She is a lawyer with the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) who records war crimes in the Russo-Ukrainian war so justice can prevail.

• Ketanji Brown Jackson: She is the first Black woman and the first former public defender on the U.S. Supreme Court.

• Francia Elena Márquez Mina: She is the Afro-Colombian Vice President of Columbia who advocates for environmental change with her legal background.

3. Watch an Educational Program

If you worry about remembering enough historical details or talking about the right people, you can rely on educational programs to spark conversations. Media like Academy Award-nominated documentaries or biopics like “RBG” or “Hidden Figures” bring history to life so it’s easier to understand. You can pause at any time to discuss themes or characters.

4. Schedule a Museum Visit

There are numerous women’s history museums that could teach you and your daughter more about historical female figures. You could also find museums with women’s history exhibitions focusing specifically on one or two leaders.

You and your daughter could walk through exhibits showcasing women who did incredible things, like the model car Vicki Wood drove to set a decade of NASCAR records between 1953 and 1963. It’s hard not to feel like history is coming to life before your eyes when you see artifacts and collections that were there when women changed the world.

5. Browse Family Photos

Don’t forget about the women who made both sides of your family tree. Sit down with a photo album to show your daughter pictures of the women in your family. Whether they were there for your past or present life, the real-life connections will inspire fascinating conversations connecting your daughter with relatives she might not have known about.

If you don’t have a collection of family photos, think about diving into your genealogy together. Online resources and library records could help you and your daughter find new information on your ancestors and how the women in your family tree lived their lives.

6. Visit a Historical Site

You’ll start a natural conversation with your daughter about women’s history by visiting a historical site. Plan a quick weekend getaway to walk the grounds of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in Maryland or the Adams National Historical Park in Massachusetts.

No matter which destinations you choose, you’ll see where influential women were born, worked, lived or died after a lifetime of influencing history. You’ll also get precious time with your daughter, which may be more challenging to find as she grows up.

7. Volunteer With a Women’s Organization

Women carved their names into history by getting out and making a difference. Do the same by volunteering with an organization dedicated to women’s issues.

There are numerous organizations to consider at both the local and national levels.

For example, Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization of women helping women. They have local chapters in cities across the world. Volunteer members work together to help women and girls in their communities through programs that improve access to education, raise awareness of gender-related obstacles, and provide other life-changing resources to women and families in need.

As you help people through volunteer programs, you’ll learn about the systemic challenges women have faced and currently face. You could also research organizations that help women in your hometown facing domestic violence, food insecurity or a lack of child care.

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Celebrate Women’s History Month Together

There are many ways to talk to your daughter about Women’s History Month this year. Consider using a few of these ideas to get the conversations started. Whether you talk over dinner, watch a documentary, visit a museum or get involved in your community, you’ll learn more about the women who helped make the world a better place.

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