women

Amy Poehler toasts with mimosas in an episode from 'Parks and Recreation'

It turns out that a 'Parks and Recreation' episode is behind Galentine's Day, an increasingly popular alternative to Valentine's Day that focuses on female friendship.

A woman spins at a loom in a sepia-print drawing

"Spinster" wasn't always a criticism. Here's the story of how this term evolved from a label for a person who spun wool and thread for a living to an unfortunate, single, older woman.

A portrait of Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway on parchment

William Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway was 26 when she married the 18-year-old Bard. New findings reveal they may have had a closer relationship than previously thought.

A scullery maid in a bonnet washes a dish next to a barrel in a Victorian-era painting

Scullery maids like Sophie from 'Bridgerton' season four were responsible for taking care of the tasks the rest of the household—even the servants—avoided.

A projection of St. Brigid on St. Brigid's Day

The holiday celebrating this famous Irish figure is a lot older than St. Patrick's Day.

Penelope from Bridgerton wears a blue dress and smiles in a doorframe

From arsenic-laced dyes to lead-based skincare, Regency-era women followed these five beauty trends—at their own risk.

A look inside the lives of several female authors who used male pseudonyms to shape literature and bypass societal boundaries.

Sir James Young Simpson didn’t think women should have to suffer in labor.

While you might not know their names, you certainly know their influence. Read our list of female revolutionaries, including Charlotte Corday, Kathleen Neal Cleaver, and more.

There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about menstruation. But it’s important to parse out what’s true and what’s a lie.

Maria Edgeworth, just one of the many 19th century female authors who isn’t Jane Austen.

Here are some of the greatest Victorian female novelists you should add to you TBR pile.

The groundbreaking primatologist changed our understanding of what it means to be human.

Many pregnant people struggle with nausea and vomiting, especially during the first trimester.

Nausea and vomiting are the bane of many a pregnant person’s first trimester. And despite the name, the symptoms aren’t just limited to the morning.

Jen Pawol made her MLB debut this past weekend.

Pawol made history this weekend as the first woman behind home plate at a major league game. What took so long?

Dorothy Thompson, Helen Gurley Brown, and Ida B. Wells.

From landmark reporters to modern media moguls, these women transformed journalism as we know it.

Juggling deadlines and children takes a lot of work.

Which states offer the best support for working moms? New England leads the pack.

Blissfully unperturbed by hormonal fluctuations.

The wide-ranging symptoms and timing of menopause have caused some confusion.

Nellie Bly, pioneer of investigative journalism,

Clever, gifted, and fearless, Nellie Bly—who was born on May 5, 1864—inspired both journalistic and social change in the late 19th century.

Time to get the facts straight on this fact of life.

Should you be worried about animal attacks when you’re menstruating?

Discover some of the most gripping books written by women to receive the coveted Hugo Award, including classics from Ursula K. Le Guin and others.

Valentina Tereshkova in a Russian poster.

The factory worker-turned-cosmonaut dealt with plenty of sexism while trying to keep her spacecraft on track.

Parts of Harriet Tubman’s and Ben Ross‘s lives are shown in a new virtual museum.

Peer into Harriet Tubman‘s father’s home via the Maryland Department of Transportation‘s new virtual museum.

How did the word for a female dog become a derogatory word for women? We explain.

What has come to be known as International Women’s Day has been celebrated for more than 100 years.

The Unexpected Origin of Galentine’s Day

What "Spinster" Originally Meant (And How It Turned Into an Insult)

What We Know—And Don't—About Shakespeare's Wife

What Is a Scullery Maid? The Real-Life 'Bridgerton' History Explained

Who Was St. Brigid? The Irish Saint Who Might Have Been a Goddess First

5 Dangerous Beauty Trends Regency Women Actually Followed

Timeless Female Authors Who Wrote Under Male Pen Names

The Man Who First Made Childbirth Pain-Free

6 Female Revolutionaries You Probably Didn’t Hear About in History Class

9 Myths and Misconceptions About Menstruation, Debunked

7 Best-Selling 19th-Century Female Novelists Who Aren’t Jane Austen

8 Defining Facts About Jane Goodall

Why Is It Called “Morning Sickness” If It Can Last All Day?

How Jen Pawol Became the First Female Umpire in MLB History

11 Women Who Changed Journalism

The 10 Best States for Working Moms

When Does Menopause Actually Start?

Remembering Nellie Bly, Rabblerouser and Pioneer of Investigative Journalism

9 Misconceptions About Menstruation

5 of the Most Incredible Hugo Award-Winning Novels Written by Women

Valentina Tereshkova, the First Woman in Space

New Virtual Museum Lets You Explore Harriet Tubman’s Teenage Home

Why Female Dogs Are Called “B*tches”—And How the Word Became an Insult to Women

6 Facts About International Women’s Day