March is Women’s History Month, and I think it might be a good time to celebrate some of the women I admire or who influenced history in some way. Obligatory disclaimer: I am not a feminist. However, the women I admire run the gamut from women who kept their homes and reared their children wisely to those who were involved in politics or business and, of course, women authors. While I tend to think focusing on people of certain race or ethnic group (Black History Month, Hispanic History Month) reinforces the very stereotypes that such a celebration is supposed to combat, a month to focus on the half of the human race that is female seems like a good thing. We are all either female or related to at least one woman.

More Women’s History Month resources.

So we’ll be reading books, talking about women’s roles and women’s work, and giving my girls and boys a chance to think about what makes men and women different and what characteristics and responsibilities they share. Here are some questions for Women’s History Month:

1. What three women, still living, do you most admire and why?

2. What three women in history do you most admire and why?

3. Who are your three favorite women authors? Why do you like them?

4. WHo are your three favorite women poets?

5. What three women in the Bible do you admire or like or identify with and why?

6. What are three books about women (with a woman or women as the protagonist or main characters) that you enjoy?

7. Aside from the obvious physical differences, what are three ways that you think women and men are different or see the world differently?

8. For the guys, what are three things you don’t understand about women?
For the ladies, what three things would you like to explain to men about women in general? Explain carefully please.

9. Do you have any suggestions for short, picture book length, books that my children (ages 11, 8, 7 and 4) and I could read together for Women’s History Month?

Answer any or all of the questions, here or there, wherever you want. Be sure to leave me a note and a link if you write about any of these questions at your blog. I’ll be interested to see what you all have to say about the women in your life and on your mind.