March is Women’s History Month. In honor of that, here are six books that present the stories of women who diligently worked for civil rights, social justice and change. Each book is written by a woman who has also been on the forefront of women’s rights.

“The Firebrand and the First Lady: Pauli Murray, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Struggle for Social Justice” by Patricia Bell-Scott

This book earned multiple awards and recognition throughout the United States. Patricia Bell-Scott is a scholar of women’s studies and black feminism. This biography is the story of Pauli Murray, a lawyer, Episcopal priest and activist who forged a friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. It’s an amazing story of two women who worked hard to change segregation and to give women rights.

“Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly

The women in this story were mathematicians, and they worked hard to change the world for women in a male-dominated industry. This is the written story that inspired the movie by the same name. Shetterly also founded The Human Computer Project, which is an organization that is archiving the work of all the women who gave input to NASA in its early days. If you can’t make time to read the book, at least watch the movie.

“Ida: A Sword among Lions” by Paula J. Giddings

Ida B. Wells was one of the founders of the NAACP. Wells is considered a pioneer in the civil rights movement. She was born to slaves in 1862. In 1884, she was ordered to give up her seat in a ladies car and move toward the back. In a move that surely inspired Rosa Parks, Wells refused. The case went to court and Wells prevailed in the lower courts. The Tennessee Supreme Court reversed the decision and ordered her to pay court costs. She became more active in civil rights, focusing on lynching. Wells is an amazing woman for her time in history. The subject matter is not an easy read.

“The Solitude of Self: Thinking About Elizabeth Cady Stanton” by Vivian Gornick**** 

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were just two of the women on the forefront of women’s suffrage in the United States. The title of the book comes from Stanton’s last public address in 1892. Gornick didn’t even know who Stanton was when she read the speech over 80 years later. The speech inspired her to delve into the women’s feminist movement through Stanton’s life.   

“The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience” by Kirstin Downey

Perkins was the first woman appointed to the US Cabinet. It seems fitting that it occurred under the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, husband to Eleanor. Roosevelt enacted programs that supported the poor, the vulnerable and the needy. Perkins was one of the people behind child labor laws and a social safety network that is still part of today’s welfare programs. Downey is a journalist with extensive experience in the workplace, economics and trade. She brings a unique look at an amazing woman who changed history for many Americans.

“Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary” by Anita Anand

Sophia Duleep Singh was an Indian princess born in the late 19th century. She was the god-daughter of Queen Victoria. Her family was exiled to Great Britain. Although Sophia was raised as an aristocrat, she became a revolutionary for her homeland, fighting for the independence of her country, for the right for women to vote and for the welfare of Indian soldiers. She didn’t rely on her place in society to make a difference for men and women in India.

Celebrate What Women Have Done

These women didn’t let the norms of their culture hold them back. Get inspired through the stories of women told by women.