Ep 16: Girls Who Know Their History

Quote: “ I have been teaching women’s history my entire career, so I have taught lots of young people,....and I have found such curiosity to know more about how we got to where we are and particularly about the relationship of black women and white women.” Until recently, women’s history has been buried within the layers of known and documented facts; an untold history of unpublished stories. And yet, we know it matters greatly that girls see themselves in the pages of history; that they discover the generations of strong, resilient, purpose-driven women who came before them, breaking ground in striving for equality. It takes the persistence and patience of a trained historian to weave a more complete tapestry of the events that have shaped–and will shape–the lives of women in today’s world, as these stories need to be teased out of the existing narrative. It also takes a great storyteller to shine a light on the gems. Listen in when host Trudy Hall has the opportunity to learn from Dr. Elisabeth Griffith, activist, celebrated historian, acclaimed author, long-tenured girls school leader, and engaging storyteller, as they discuss the importance of girls knowing women’s history–or the “pink” timeline, as it is sometimes called. Griffith’s new book, Formidable: American Women and the Fight for Equality, 1920-2020, which the New York Times raved is “a profoundly illuminating tour de force,” is a multiracial, inclusive timeline of women’s history packed with stories that will empower girls and women of all ages.You will also hear clips from both Griffith’s PBS Newshour interview as well as a spot on TED talk by Emily Krichbaum, Director of the Center for Girls’ and Young Women’s Leadership at Columbus School for Girls. It is often said that “girls need to see it to be it.” Perhaps it would be even more powerful if they also read it, heard it, and learned about it in history class. Resources: ICGS (International Coalition of Girls Schools): https://girlsschools.org Formidable: American Women and the Fight for Equality, 1920-2020, Elisabeth Griffith. The Medeira School: https://www.madeira.org/ The Village School: https://villageschool.us/ “Elisabeth Griffith’s new book, ‘Formidable,’ chronicles American women’s fight for equality,” PBS NewsHour interview with Judy Woodruff: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/elisabeth-griffiths-new-book-formidable-chronicles-american-womens-fight-for-equality “Remember the Ladies,” a TEDxColumbusWomen talk by Emily Krichbaum, quoted in this episode: https://www.ted.com/talks/emily_krichbaum_remember_the_ladies_the_importance_of_women_s_history_in_classrooms?language=en