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Junior Scholastic Teaching Kits
Teacher-approved stories, resources, and worksheets, courtesy of Junior Scholastic, the middle school Social Studies classroom magazine.
Women’s History: The Struggle for Equality
Learn about important women throughout history—including Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth—and the progress that’s been made in the fight for gender equality.
Featured Teaching Kits
Teacher-approved stories, resources, and worksheets for teaching about the struggle for women’s equality in your classroom, courtesy of Junior Scholastic, the middle school Social Studies classroom magazine
The fight for women’s rights in the United States goes back almost to our country’s beginning. But just because the fight is old doesn’t mean it’s over. These Massachusetts teenagers are standing up to be heard—and to amend the Constitution to guarantee equal rights for women.
During World War II, so many men went overseas to fight that Major League Baseball had trouble filling out its teams—and filling up the stands. That’s when these pioneering women stepped up to bat to play in their own professional baseball league, one whose legacy is still felt today.
In January 2016, the Department of Defense opened all combat positions in the United States military to female troops for the first time. This was a big change for our armed forces, but are women really on equal footing in the military? Read this article and form your own opinion.
Female athletes in America are surpassing their male counterparts in many ways, but when it comes to their paychecks, there’s still a lot of ground to make up. Gender wage differences in American sports are still large. Read the article to find out why—and why that might change in the near future.
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Quotes
Famous quotes from women throughout history
“I may sometimes be willing to teach for nothing, but if paid at all, I shall never do a man’s work for less than a man’s pay.”
—Clara Barton, a nurse who founded the American Red Cross in 1881
“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”
—Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom
“The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.”
—Juliette Gordon Low, who founded Girl Scouts of America in 1912
“In Iroquois society, leaders are encouraged to remember seven generations in the past and consider seven generations in the future when making decisions that affect the people.”
—Wilma Mankiller, who became the first woman elected to be chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1985
Key Figures
Four women who made an impact
Susan B. Anthony
As co-founder of the National Woman Suffrage Association and founder of the American Equal Rights Association, Susan B. Anthony advocated for voting rights for 50 years and made women’s suffrage a recognized cause in both the United States and Europe.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Along with Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized the Seneca Falls Convention (July 19–20, 1848), the first women's rights assembly in America. There, Stanton drafted the “Declaration of Sentiments . . .,” which paralleled the wording of the Declaration of Independence and insisted on women’s suffrage.
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth was a preacher, abolitionist, and leading orator for black emancipation and women's suffrage. Her most famous speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?,” highlighted the importance of eliminating both racial and gender-based oppression.
Ida B. Wells
A founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Ida B. Wells was an African American journalist and civil rights activist who launched a far-reaching antilynching crusade and organized and demonstrated on behalf of women’s suffrage.
Resources
Supplemental resources that link to external websites about women’s history
National Women’s History Museum
An online history museum that highlights the important roles women play in society, business, science, politics, and other aspects of American life
National Archives: Women’s History
Images, documents, and other primary sources related to the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the fight for women’s suffrage
PBS: Black Women in History
PBS’s collection of videos and web-exclusive features from trusted public media partners tells the stories of black women in America.
Glossary
Terms and definitions that pertain to women’s history
19th Amendment
noun
ratified in August 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides women with the same voting rights as men
discrimination
the practice of unfairly treating a person or a group of people differently from other people or groups of people
Equal Rights Amendment
a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would guarantee women the same treatment and rights as men
feminism
the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities
picket
verb
to stand or march in a public place to protest something
suffragist
someone who works in support of suffrage (voting rights, especially for women)
Explore Other Topics
Discover other free social studies topics and middle school teaching resources.
The Roles of the Presidency
From Commander-in-Chief to Chief-of-State, the President has many critical roles.
The United States Constitution
Ancient Civilizations
An overview of humanity’s first large societies: how they formed, who ruled them, and how they influenced the world today.
The Civil Rights Movement
TKTKTK
Real Teens of History
These inspiring teens fought for what they believed in—and made history in the process.
The History and Heroes of World War II
An overview of World War II: why the U.S. got involved, what citizens did to fight back, and how people worldwide were affected
Social Studies Debate Kit
Teaching the art of debating—and how to write an effective argument essay—can help students master critical-thinking and communication skills.
Mastering Media Literacy and Digital Literacy
In an increasingly digital world, being able to navigate technology skillfully and evaluate online resources for accuracy and trustworthiness is crucial.
Map Skills
Teaching map skills can build students’ geography knowledge—and enhance their understanding of the world in which they live.
Middle School Civics
An overview of civics: what it means to be a good citizen, how democracy works, and why staying informed and engaged matters—even as kids.
The Civil War and Reconstruction
Use these features and supporting resources to give students deeper as well as broader knowledge of these key periods in U.S. history.
Immigration
The U.S. is a nation of immigrants, built by people who left their homes to seek new lives and opportunities. However, Americans' feelings about immigrants are mixed.
Empower Your Students to Explore Their World
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Bettmann/Getty Images (Suffragettes); Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger (teen girls); Sophie Kurys of the Racine Belles (baseball player); Molly A. Burgess/Courtesy of Veterans Affairs Research Communications (soldiers); Joe Robbins/Getty Images (Lebron James); Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images (Candace Parker); PhotoQuest/Getty Images (Susan B. Anthony); Bettmann/Getty Images (Elizabeth Cady Stanton); MPI/Getty Images (Sojourner Truth); Chicago History Museum/Getty Images (Ida B. Wells)