Women’s History

Discover five extraordinary women whose leadership and determination redefined America, proving that change happens when bold voices rise.

Researchers at the National Archives have found evidence that at least 250 women dressed as men to fight in the Civil War, some motivated by ideology, some by a taste for adventure and some by the need for a job.

Amelia Earhart, the world's most famous female pilot, takes off on the last leg of a record-breaking flight but never reaches the next stop.

Elizabeth Freeman's story is nothing short of incredible—her ability to win freedom in Massachusetts' courts prompted future legislation for abolition.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talks about Women's Rights past and present.

In America's forgotten war, one hero with heritage on the other side of the battlefield put himself in harm's way to save his fellow soldiers.

In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress, and in 1972 she was the first Black major party candidate to run for president. But beyond being a first, who was Shirley Chisholm? And how does her legacy impact us all today?

Sometimes, it really does come down to one vote (and the voter's mother) to change history.

From Tomoe Gozen to Jeanne Hachette, these 10 badass warrior women have slashed their way into the history books, in this episode of History Countdown.

These 6 women were true triple threats: performers, celebrities - and spies! From Julia Child to Audrey Hepburn, these are 6 famous women who were secretly spies, in this episode of History Countdown.

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in America to earn a medical degree, and used her talents to support Union troops on the frontlines of the Civil War. But she was never given the credit she deserved.

Without their sister, Katharine, the Wright brothers may have never taken flight.

Growing up in the Bronx, Sonia Sotomayor was a die-hard Yankees fan. Little did she know she would one day help save the sport itself.

American history author David McCullough shines a light on Emily Roebling, the true driving force behind the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Brenda Berkman is the reason women are allowed to join the New York City fire department-- this is the story of her fight.

Robin Morgan led the protest of the 1968 Miss America Pageant by the New York Radical Women. This event brought feminism to the forefront and left an imprint on protest movements that followed.

On 9/11, Heather Penney, a fighter pilot with the Washington D.C. Air National Guard, was tasked with the unthinkable; taking down Flight 93.

A group called The New York Radical Women may have protested the 1968 Miss America Pageant, but contrary to popular myth, they did not burn any bras.

From historical figures like Jeannette Rankin, the first woman in Congress, to modern ones like Tammy Duckworth, the first disabled person in Congress, meet 5 women who have paved the way for others in politics.

Although now a standard part of any makeup kit, red lipstick has a long and turbulent history that dates back to ancient times. Often controversial and sometimes heroic, red lipstick has always meant much more than just a choice of color.

In 1834, men and women—African American and white—of William Lloyd Garrison’s newly formed Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society saw Christmas as an opportunity to expose a republic that proclaimed liberty yet held millions as slaves. Women assumed the lead, boldly defying a society that denied them a public voice or political opinions. To finance the abolition cause, these women organized Christmas bazaars that sold donated gifts, and trumpeted anti-slavery messages in the name of the prince of peace and emancipation.

Learn how Virginia Hall, woman with a prosthetic leg, became the most feared allied spy in WWII. See how she eluded Nazi capture and aided in a victory at D-Day.

In the 1800s, department stores offered women a space where they could purchase clothing and other wares apart from the men in their lives.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg has achieved legendary status as the second woman ever appointed to the United States Supreme Court. But her path to Associate Justice was not an easy one, filled with obstacles faced by countless 20th century women looking to break into male-dominated professions.

The all-female Soviet bomber aviation regiment flew under the cover of night and dropped more than 23,000 tons of bombs on Nazi targets during World War II.

After decades of organizing, lobbying, and protesting, American women finally gained the right to vote with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. This film offers rare footage of the struggle leading up to and including that pivotal moment.

How did the fight for equal pay evolve over a century of United States politics? What did the Equal Pay Act of 1963 enshrine in law, and what effect did it have on U.S. workplaces?

Learn about the movement for women's equality that precipitated the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, and what its attendees - including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott - hoped to achieve.

Jacqui Rossi details Amelia Earhart's trajectory from baby tomboy in Kansas to the world's foremost aviatrix.

Bet you've never heard of all 11 of these game-changing women and their incredible accomplishments.

Historian Yohuru Williams recaps the efforts of women to secure the right to vote in the early 19th century.

Historian Matthew Pinsker Learn about the long arduous journey made by suffragists that eventually won them the right to vote in 1920. Hosted by historian Matthew Pinsker.

Florence Nightingale was so respected in the field of nursing that she was tapped to consult with the British Army. Learn more about the health reforms that she instituted in this video.