Click the stories below to hear the voices of many women who have challenged gender norms, advanced their fields, and left a lasting legacy.
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The Door She Opened
Dee Westenhauser remembers how her Aunt Yaya gave her a safe, loving space to be herself.
No More Questions!
Strong-willed Kay Wang allows her son and granddaughter to ask her a few brief questions about her adventures in life.
Silvia’s Legacy
Ellaraino honors a priceless piece of her family’s history: the stories of her great-grandmother Silvia, who had lived through the Civil War.
The Tubby Rule
In the 1950s, Kay Johnston signed up to play in her local Little League under the name “Tubby” Johnston. At the time it was unthinkable for a girl to play on an official team.
Read the full transcript here.
Remembering One Tough Veteran: Lieutenant Susan Ahn Cuddy
Susan Ahn Cuddy was a loving mother, the first Asian American woman in the Navy, and the first woman gunnery officer teaching air combat tactics.
Read the full transcript here.
Studying the Impacts of Climate Change and Motherhood
Dr. Lora Koenig and Dr. Zoe Courville became friends while studying the impact of climate change in some of the most remote corners of the world. Through the years, they’ve helped each other navigate the challenges of balancing their work and personal lives.
Read the full transcript here.
Thrills and Spills
When Kittie Weston-Knauer began competing in BMX competitions, she was often the only woman on the track. Now at nearly 70 years old, Kittie is the oldest female BMX racer in the U.S. with no plans of retiring any time soon.
Read the full transcript here.
On the Basis of Sex
Sharron Cohen was represented by a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the 1973 Supreme Court case Frontiero v. Richardson, which would become one of the first sucessful sex discrimination cases in U.S. history.
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Mi Abuela Panchita
Panchita Espitia was a formidable woman, not afraid of rattlesnakes underfoot on the Texas ranches of her youth or of death itself.
Turning to the Clouds
Wally Funk grew up wanting to fly, hoping to reach the ultimate destination – outer space. In 1961 she nearly got the chance.
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An Artist’s Heart
Amy Sherald, known for her portrait of Michelle Obama, warns that being an artist is not for the faint-hearted.
Read the full transcript here.
Mama the Tax Collector
Despite the odds being against her, Marie Sayenega ran for tax collector in the borough of Bethel, won the election, and went on to hold the position for 24 years. Her son Bill Sayenega shares memories of his mother.
Read the full transcript here.
A Multigenerational Passion for Medicine
Jenna Lester comes from a long line of women who have dedicated their lives to medicine: her grandmother was one of the first African American women to become a nurse practitioner in New York.
Read the full transcript here.
The Icing on the Cake
Blanca Alvarez took a huge risk when she crossed the border from Mexico to the United States. She ended up inspiring her daughter to follow her dreams.
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