March is Women’s History Month, acknowledging the contributions of women throughout history.  These 12 Retro Report documentaries showcase one journalist’s crusade to outlaw lynching, an activist who pushed for Indigenous land rights, and other women who have led the fight for equality. Learn the often-overlooked stories of history’s boldest women with the videos below, and explore more in our Women’s History Collection.

Ida B. Wells and the Long Crusade to Outlaw Lynching

Ida B. Wells was not only a crucial figure in the civil rights movement but also a journalist, educator and suffragist. Her investigative journalism documented lynchings throughout the Jim Crow-era South. She used her findings to campaign for a federal antilynching law. But it wasn’t until 2022 that Congress passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, defining lynching as a federal hate crime. Wells’s work was not given the respect it demanded until decades after her death.

The 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz Was a Catalyst for Indigenous Activism

In 1968, LaNada War Jack became the first Native American admitted to University of California, Berkeley. A year after beginning her studies, War Jack emerged as one of the leaders in the 19-month occupation of Alcatraz Island, a moment of activism that reinforced tribal sovereignty and successfully reversed federal policies aimed at erasing Native Americans’ cultural identity. 

Rachel Carson’s Warning on D.D.T. Ignited an Environmental Movement

“Silent Spring,” Rachel Carson’s book on the dangers of pesticides like D.D.T., ignited decades of activism and set off a global movement. Carson’s findings got Americans to confront the damage humans were doing to the planet. Her work also prompted the passing of regulations that virtually banned D.D.T. in the United States; most other countries followed suit.

From Women’s Suffrage to the ERA, a Century-Long Push for Equality

In 1972, Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment after a nearly 50-year political battle. The E.R.A., which bars discrimination on the basis of sex, and the national conversation it has ignited for more than 100 years reflect great societal divides. When Virginia became the latest state to ratify the amendment in 2020, the headlines focused not on celebration, but coverage of backlash from state senators.

She Derailed a Fight for Equal Rights for Women

Even in the #MeToo era, many people don’t know that the Equal Rights Amendment never passed…because of one woman. Her name is Phyllis Schlafly. She honed her political skills in the conservative movement of the 1950s and 1960s, then put them to work to stop the ERA. She traveled the country decrying the proposed amendment, which sought to ensure equal rights for women under law, as “anti-family” and un-American.

How Black Women Fought Racism and Sexism for the Right to Vote

For decades after the 19th Amendment was ratified, Black women faced obstacles to voting, despite the critical role they played in the suffrage movement. The 1965 Voting Rights Act outlawed many barriers to voting, and counties with a history of discrimination were placed under federal oversight.

She Rocked The Pentagon

In 1991, news of a sexual assault scandal at the Tailhook convention made headlines. The episode was called the worst case of sexual harassment in the U.S. Navy’s history. The scandal prompted one female officer, Paula Coughlin, to testify about her experience of sexual assault at the convention and launch a campaign to change military culture. The story of Coughlin and her testimony provides new context for sexual assault in the military today. Learn more in this Retro Report short documentary.

Argentina’s Stolen Babies, and the Grandmothers Leading the Search

In 2015, the Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a group of women dedicated to finding babies who were abducted by Argentina’s military regime in the 1970s and 1980s, reunited for the 130th time. Movements like theirs show that for mothers and all caregivers, the fight for equality affects generations. Watch this Retro Report short documentary to learn more about the decades of activism by the Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo.

Abortion Was Illegal. This Secret Group Defied the Law

In 2022, Roe v. Wade was reversed by the Supreme Court, overturning the constitutional right to abortion. Organizations have sprung up across the nation that work to provide abortion care in states with abortion restrictions. The movement is reminiscent of a time before Roe V. Wade made its way to the Supreme Court. Between 1969 and 1973, an organization known as the Jane Collective provided thousands of illegal abortions, using tactics worthy of a spy novel. Learn more in this Retro Report short documentary.

Women, Work and the Modern American Family

Since the 1990s, the debate over the role of women with children has pitted women with full-time jobs against stay-at-home mothers. In this video, lesson plan and activity, students will explore essential questions about how the American family structure has evolved, and how the changing role of women in U.S. society has affected the family dynamic.

“No” on Impeachment Unites Today’s GOP. In the 1950s, a Renegade Dared to Break Ranks – Retro Report

In the 1950s, Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine faced backlash after she condemned Joseph McCarthy, a fellow Republican. In this video and lesson plan, students will evaluate the potential consequences of politicians who choose not to align with their affiliated party.

Princess Diana Brought Attention to Land Mines, but Their Danger Lingers – Retro Report

In the late 1990s, Princess Diana brought public attention to the victims of land mines. In this video, lesson plan and activity, students will learn about how the weapons have been used around the world and why remaining mines affect people’s lives today.

We hope you will spend this month learning about the remarkable women who fought for freedom. Explore more in our Women’s History Collection.


DAGMAR ROTHSCHILD is an education intern at Retro Report. She is an undergraduate at Georgetown, studying International Relations. Stay up to date. Subscribe to our newsletters.

CAROLINE WATKINS is the Senior Audience Engagement Manager at Retro Report.