Recommendations for Women's History Month 2023
March is the official month for us to celebrate Women’s History- where women have stood in society, how they’ve made leaps, and what the hopes are moving forward. Whether you’re a history buff and enjoy diving into the countless stories of often overlooked social movements- such as the Women’s Suffrage Movement, the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote in the Unites States, The Equal Pay Act of 1963, or notable Supreme Court Cases in the 1960s and 70s that allowed women access to birth control for the first time- or you prefer to look into the influence of women in the world of Sports, media, literature, & Pop Culture, Women’s History Month is a time to honor women who have devoted their lives and minds to making art, pursuing truth, debunking stereotypes that may be false and problematic, & reflecting on the the human condition.
Below, members of RDP recommend some of their favorite female storytellers who use their own voices and experiences to inspire women to be informed, bold and confident.
Tavyn’s recommendation: Herstory Podcast
https://www.instagram.com/herstorypodcastofficial/
HerStory Podcast is the brainchild of an 8th grade student, Paige Lawson, at North Garner Middle School in Garner, North Carolina.
Originally created as a project for AIG, HerStory Podcast was a way for Paige to shine the spotlight on something she’s passionate about: females in athletics. As a developing female athlete herself, Paige has already experienced some of the double standards when it comes to girl sports teams vs. boys sports teams: recognition from the school, resources for the teams, and the attendance and respect of peers. Being both observant & well-read on the latest news on women’s sports, Paige understands that this is not an issue that will suddenly disappear as she continues to navigate athletics and attempt to further herself.
So, in order to learn more while simultaneously bring knowledge to listeners, Paige brings on guests from all walks of life, many of which come from the plethora of universities in the Triangle area (UNC, NC State, and Duke) and from various sports, to discuss the past, present, and potential future of female athletics.
Emma's recommendation: Aisha Praught Leer
https://www.instagram.com/aishapraughtleer/
Aisha is a professional runner and Olympian representing Jamaica. She tore her meniscus just before the Toyko Olympics in 2021 and still competed in the 1500m at the Games. She then had major surgery to repair her knee and has shared her challenging road to recovery and her training ups and downs. We often see runners waiting to share about injuries until they're confidently on the road to recovery. I appreciate Aisha's openness about the nonlinear process of her knee, and her ability to support and lift up her teammates at times when running isn't going her way.
Nikki's recommendation: Ologies with Alie Ward
https://open.spotify.com/show/5nvRkVMH58SelKZYZFZx1S?si=d25fc3730df04d4b
Alie brings a new guest on each episode to cover an "ology" or a particular study. If big words scare you, don't worry, the title of each episode includes the "ology" along with what that means in simpler terms. Guests start out by breaking down what they do, who they are, and how they got to where they are today (some get to make up their own "ology" to describe what they study). Alie is great at hyping up the guests, finding the most interesting corners of the subject, along with making all sorts of diverse topics relatable and understandable. From "Indigenous Pedology to Mycology to Vampirology, there is no topic left untouched. Guests on Ologies are diverse, leading scientists, and a lot of fun. You'll learn something new in every episode!
Amy’s Recommendation: Sally McRae
Instagram yellowrunner
Sally is an ultra trail running athlete, coach, wife and mother of 2. She is well known in the trail running world for her impressive wins and mountain adventures, but perhaps most so because of the brightness and good vibes that she shares with all those around her. Sally has been through a lot, but still manages to maintain a sense of optimism about the world around her and her place in it.