Women of Wednesday: The National Women’s History Project

The Write Sisters have spent a lot of time writing about notable women. Every time we take on a new project and research an individual for our children’s books, we all say variations of this comment: “Wow! A short profile was just not long enough to explain about all the fabulous things this woman did. Some day I’m going to write a _______(fill in the blank with: longer, picture, chapter, etc.) book about her”.

Today I’d like to tell you about an organization that feels the same way we do: women’s history is too important to overlook. The opening page of the National Women’s History Project begins with this quote by Myra Pollack Sadker who pioneered research on gender bias: “Each time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history, she learns she is worth less”.
We hope that the America’s Notable Women Series is helping young girls all over the country to realize that the contributions they make throughout their lives are more than important, they are essential.

From my experience, we are making progress. When I graduated from high school, most of my girl friends went to work or got married. Those of us that went on to further schooling generally became teachers or nurses. In our neighborhood filled with adults who had had to skip high school to survive the depression, that fact was a big deal. Move ahead one generation. The majority of my daughters’ friends went on to 4 year colleges and became scientists, executives, artists, and researchers among other careers.

Still, I believe little girls still need to be reminded of their worth. Women will always have a tendency to think of the needs of the many over their personal needs. We are wired to care for family groups and while today’s men participate more in this work, women still perform the majority of family-related tasks. So, ladies, when you’re feeling a little less than important or overwhelmed by the day to day stuff, take a minute and head on over to http://www.nwhp.org/ Look over their extensive web site. Teachers, students, parents can find help and resources that will expand their knowledge of women’s history. Read about some of these extraordinary women—including the ones who founded NWHP.