Explore

Maria Mitchell science women in science International Women's Day women in STEM culture and society feminism history and literature history quotes

No woman should say, ‘I am but a woman!’ But a woman! What more can you ask to be?

On International Women’s Day, the wisdom and legacy of trailblazing 19th-century astronomer Maria Mitchell, who paved the way for women in science.

Nellie Bly International Women's Day women feminism culture and society journalism thought and opinion gender history and literature lit

If girls were boys quickly would it be said: start them where they will, they can, if ambitious, win a name and fortune. How many wealthy and great men could be pointed out who started in the depths; but where are the many women? Let a youth start as errand boy and he will work his way up until he is one of the firm. Girls are just as smart, a great deal quicker to learn; why, then, can they not do the same?

For International Women’s Day, What Girls Are Good For – young Nellie Bly’s superb 1885 response to a patronizing chauvinist.

Maria Mitchell astronomy science and technology science women education women in science International Women's Day

For International Women’s Day, how astronomer Maria Mitchell paved the way for women in science

Adrienne Rich history and literature feminism International Women's Day thought and opinion lit gender culture and society

Women have been driven mad, “gaslighted,” for centuries by the refutation of our experience and our instincts in a culture which validates only male experience. The truth of our bodies and our minds has been mystified to us. We therefore have a primary obligation to each other: not to undermine each other’s sense of reality for the sake of expediency; not to gaslight each other.

Women have often felt insane when cleaving to the truth of our experience. Our future depends on the sanity of each of us, and we have a profound stake, beyond the personal, in the project of describing our reality as candidly and fully as we can to each other.

[…]

When a woman tells the truth she is creating the possibility for more truth around her.

For International Women’s Day, and every day, Adrienne Rich on women, honor, and what “truth” really means.

International Women's Day women culture and society history and literature history bodybuilding

For International Women’s Day, a fantastic pictorial history of muscular women.