Women’s History

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.

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.

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.

To finance the abolition cause, women organized Christmas bazaars that sold donated gifts and trumpeted the anti-slavery message.

Learn about the arduous journey made by suffragists that eventually won them the right to vote in 1920.

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

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

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?

Women's History Month is a time to honor women throughout history, but why does it take place in March?

The invention of the safety bike gave women a newfound freedom of movement.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Growing up in the Bronx, Sonia Sotomayor was a Yankees fan. Little did she know that she would play a role in saving the entire sport.

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

Researchers at the National Archives have found evidence that at least 250 women dressed as men to fight in the Civil War.

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

Learn about five of history's most impactful and influential female educators.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

From Washington to Franklin, U.S. money looks all male, but this woman appeared on American currency over a century ago.

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

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.

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