Women’s History Month is here, and it’s the perfect opportunity to learn about the incredible contributions women have made to history. Since the earliest days on record, society has attempted to wedge a barrier between men and women, with the latter being shoehorned into an inferior position. Women have fought an uphill battle for centuries, and though there’s still a long way to go, their strength and bravery have more than paid off in many ways.
This March, we celebrate the brilliant women who have brought representation and equality into a brand new light. From scientists, athletes, and CEOs to change-makers and artists, women have been pioneering the course of history in ways you may not have realized. Here’s our list of eight amazing movies to watch in honor of Women’s History Month.
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12On the Basis of Sex
If you haven’t heard about thehistorical pioneer that is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was the second woman justice ever on the U.S. Supreme Court,On the Basis of Sexis a movie you need to see. Ginsburg was a nationally-renowned lawyer and served as the Associate Justice of the United States of Supreme Court for nearly 20 years, and this movie portrays one of her earliest cases. She successfully represented a man who was wrongfully denied a tax deduction after hiring a nurse to care for his elderly mother, and the case (Moritz vs. Commissioner) changed history forever.
11The Joy Luck Club
The Joy Luck Clubis a paragon of representation for Asian women in America. The story is told in sections, and each focuses on a Chinese immigrant that traveled to America. The women overcome many obstacles in their life, but their greatest challenges come from raising their own daughters in a completely different world. The movie has been critically praised for its gorgeous portrayal of Chinese culture; it’s considered such an important film that the Library of Congress chose to officially preserve it in 2020.
10A League of Their Own
If you’re a fan of sports films,A League of Their Ownis ideal for Women’s History Month. We meet Dottie and Kit, sisters and avid baseball players in small-town Oregon. Realizing that World War II may put an end to American baseball, the owner of the Chicago Cubs recruits the sisters to join his growing women’s team. What follows is an incredible story of the Rockford Peaches, one of the first all-women teams in the MLB. Against all odds, the Peaches win the World Series and permanently open a gateway for more women to join the sport. This is another stunning piece of history that was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress.
Jennifer Lopez brought representation to Latin women everywhere as Selena, a Mexican-American woman that rose to superstardom as a Tejano musician in the 90s. She faces race, sex and class barriers around every turn, but her spirit and determination allow her to overcome them all with grace. The ending is jarring, but the story as a whole is beautiful and inspiring.Selenagave Lopez one of her earliest roles in film, and she plays the Queen of Tejano with strength and joy.
8Soul Surfer
The story of Bethany Hamilton shook the world in the 2010s, and it’s just as important today. This biographical drama weaves Hamilton’s narrative as she loses and regains her passion for surfing; at age 13, she ventures out to catch some waves on her own and tragically loses her arm in a shark attack. Despite the accident, Bethany chooses to move forward without a prosthetic, becoming one of the greatest surfers in history. AnnaSophia Robb plays a fierce Bethany inSoul Surfer, and we get to see real footage of Bethany in some of the film’s archive footage.
7Hidden Figures
Another major stepping stone for Black women in America,Hidden Figuresshowed us all some of the most game-changing members of NASA we’d never heard of. This historical flick features three incredible Black scientists who join NASA’s Space Task Force in 1969. Despite extensive sexism and racism in the workplace, the trio produced some of the most groundbreaking work in scientific history. In the end, they manage to prove themselves to everyone and are later chosen to partake in missions like Apollo 11 and the Space Shuttle.
InJoy, Jennifer Lawrence shines as the titular Joy Mangano, an ambitious businesswoman who became a self-made millionaire. While juggling different aspects of her complex personal life, Joy innovates a self-wringing mop and eventually meets a wealthy investor. Despite numerous people’s attempts to shut her blossoming business down, Joy fights back with tenacity and finds independence as one of the most successful business entrepreneurs of all time. Fun fact: the real-life Joy Mangano is the founder and CEO of Clean Boss, which is still selling products today.
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A deeply moving tale of lesbian representation,Carolstars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, who come together during Christmas in 1952. Stemming from fairly different lives, the women gradually open up to each other about their queerness. They struggle to accept themselves and each other in the face of discrimination, but they’re eventually able to make things work. The love story is every bit as raw as it is sweet, and the stars are a force to be reckoned with.
Mulanis one of the most beloved Disney movies of all time, and the titular character’s rise as a war hero and official Disney Princess is unforgettable. As a young woman in ancient China, Mulan has a hard time fulfilling society’s rigorous gender roles. When her elderly, injured father is drafted for war against The Huns, she risks everything by impersonating a man and taking his place in the army. This young woman is a great role model for girls of all ages!
3Suffragette
It’s no secret that history has tried to stifle women in politics, andSuffragettegives us a look at the courageous women who fought for their right to vote. Set in 1912, Maud and Violet are laundry workers in England; after joining a suffragette protest, the two are met with intense stigma and abuse at the hands of the men in their lives. Despite the backlash and obstacles that come their way, Maud and Violet remain steadfast members of the suffragette movement until the very end.
