March is Women’s History Month in the U.S., and the theme chosen by the National Women’s History Alliance for 2023 is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” As the NWHA theme summary says, “Women have long been instrumental in passing on our heritage in word and in print to communicate the lessons of those who came before us. Women’s stories, and the larger human story, expand our understanding and strengthen our connections with each other.”

To help Christian communities commemorate those who identify as women who have given voice to the stories that need to be told throughout history, including the stories of our faith, we have assembled a list of resources for engaging Women’s History Month. This list includes books, articles, podcasts, videos, virtual exhibits and events, and church resources as a starting point for exploring women’s contributions to our stories.

Books

History Books

• Before We Were Trans: A New History of Gender by Kit Heyam (New York: Seal, 2022)
• A Black Women’s History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross (Boston: Beacon, 2020)

Histories and Stories in Christianity Books

• Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter by Lindsay Hardin Freeman, 2nd ed. (Cincinnati: Forward Movement, 2023)
• Invisible: Theology and the Experience of Asian American Women by Grace Ji-Sun Kim (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2021)
• Storied Witness: The Theology of Black Women Preachers in 19th-century America by Kate Hanch (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2022)
• This Band of Sisterhood: Black Women Bishops on Race, Faith, and the Church edited by Westina Matthews (New York: Church Publishing, 2021)
• Women and the Christian Story: A Global History by Jennifer Hornyak Wojciechowski (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2022)

Reading Lists for All Ages

• “Tell Her Story: Books for Women’s History Month 2023 for Kids” at the Chicago Public Library website
• “Tell Her Story: Books for Women’s History Month 2023 for Teens” at the Chicago Public Library website
• “Tell Her Story: Books for Women’s History Month 2023” at the Chicago Public Library website
• “10 Nonfiction Books (and One Novel) to Keep Women’s History Month Going All Year” by Emily McFarlan Miller, Religion News Service (Apr. 1, 2021)

Articles

• “A More Complete Women’s History” by Coshandra Dillard, Learning for Justice (Mar. 30, 2020)
• “Honor Trans Women This Women’s History Month,” Learning for Justice (Mar. 9, 2020)

Podcasts

• Seneca’s 100 Women to Hear – episodes roughly 30 minutes long, new releases weekly
• Sistory Untold, hosted by Marva and Sabrina – episodes about an hour long, new releases monthly
• What’sHerName, hosted by Katie Nelson and Olivia Meikle – episodes 40 – 60 minutes long, new releases monthly (sometimes more frequently)

Videos

• “Brave Girls” Virtual Storytime hosted by the National Women’s History Museum – videos with authors reading children’s picture books on YouTube, recommended for children in grades K – 2 and their parents or caregivers
• “Unladylike 2020” – short documentaries on women, available in English and Spanish

Virtual Exhibits and Events

• National Women’s History Museum Online Exhibits
• National Women’s History Museum Public Programs and Events
• “Women’s History Month Resources” at the National Council for History Education website – online exhibits from museums, agencies, and magazines

Church Resources

• “Liturgical Resources for Women’s History Month” by Cynthia Wilson, Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church (Mar. 9, 2020)
• “Telling Their Stories: The History of Women in the Local Church, A Resource Packet,” General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church – a free downloadable toolkit for researching the history of women in your church
• “A Women’s History Month Blessing for Clergywomen” by Victoria Wick, Young Clergy Women International (Mar. 23, 2022)
• “Women’s History Month: March” at the ELCA Faith Formation website – articles, resources, and links for celebrating Women’s History Month
• A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: Year A by Wilda C. Gafney (New York: Church Publishing, 2021) – a Year W edition is also available now, and Year B is forthcoming and currently available for pre-order

Featured image is by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash