Listen to the stories below to hear the voices and memories of women who have loved hard, worked hard, broken down barriers, and left long-lasting legacies for generations of women and girls to come.
Which voices are missing from our country’s portrait of women’s history? You can show someone you love that their stories matter, by connecting with them for a StoryCorps conversation and preserve their narratives for generations to come.You can record in person using the StoryCorps App, or remotely using StoryCorps Connect.
Lola’s Work
To Crescenciana Tan, family meant everything. Her grandson Kenneth reflected on all he learned from her work and love with his mother, Olivia Tan Ronquillo.
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 successful sex discrimination cases in U.S. history.
“Strong Lines; Beautiful Lines”
Grete Bergman and Sarah Whalen-Lunn make their mark through Traditional Native Face Markings connecting them to their roots and reviving the lost tradition.
Cleaning Off the Crude
On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez ran aground spilling over 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, devastating marine wildlife. Suzanne and LJ met when they volunteered at the Wildlife Rescue Center.
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.
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.
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.
My Mother the Performer
Dorlie Fong remembers her mother, Dorothy Toy, and the connection she made backstage with the star.
For the Love of Books
Rich Jean wasn’t always sure how to keep his 3-year-old daughter, Abigail, busy and happy. Librarian Hasina Islam quickly changed that and Abigail’s love for books was born.
“I Want This Not to Be Normal.”
Sabrina Beavers and Shantay Davies-Balch have spent their careers fighting for Black maternal and infant health. When both women had their babies early, they found themselves at the center of that issue.
Love Lost, And Found
Sue McConnell and Kristyn Weed are best friends and Vietnam-era veterans. Although they didn’t serve in the war together, they share a story of courage — on and off the battlefield.
Remembering One Tough Veteran
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.
A Pandemic Couldn’t Stop Her
Helen Merrill, age 91, prides herself on one simple fact: that in her lifetime, she’s never missed a single presidential election.
Alexis Martinez and Lesley Martinez Etherly
Growing up, Alexis Martinez knew that she had to hide from others that she is transgender. Forty years later, Alexis spoke with her daughter, Lesley, about growing up, parenthood, and now living as a woman.
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