PBS Western Reserve proudly honors Women’s History Month with inspiring programming that reflects the strength and impact of women throughout history. The programs listed below air on our PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1) and Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2) channels.
With an introduction by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, this program details the women’s suffrage movement and the events that culminated in the passing of the 19th Amendment.
Examine the life and mathematical work of Maryam Mirzakhani, an Iranian immigrant to the United States who became a superstar in her field. In 2014, before her sudden death at age 40, she became both the first woman and the first Iranian to be awarded the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in mathematics.
Meet the Radical Monarchs, a group of young girls of color on the frontlines of social justice. Follow the group as they earn badges for completing units on such subjects as being an LGBTQ+ ally, preserving the environment and fighting for disability justice.
Explore legendary choreographer Twyla Tharp’s career and famously rigorous creative process through original interviews, firsthand glimpses of her at work and rare archival footage of select performances.
Discover how Rita Moreno persevered to become one of only 19 stars to have received Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. Explore her career of more than 70 years with interviews, clips of her iconic roles and scenes of the star on set still today.
Mary-Louise Parker is the voice of groundbreaking scientist Rachel Carson in this moving and intimate portrait.Drawn from Carson’s writings, letters and recent scholarship, this film illuminates both the public and private life of the woman who launched the modern environmental movement and revolutionized how we understand our relationship with the natural world.
Dig deep into the personal experiences and challenges of women who took the risk to run for office when women’s candidacies were exceedingly rare. The purpose of this documentary is to bring their lived experiences to life to inform, inspire and, perhaps, prompt others to run.
Follow the female pilots of the 2014 Air Race Classic racers as they make their way across the country while telling the story of the first women’s cross-country air race of 1929, also known as the Powder Puff Derby. The first women’s air derby comprised 20 women, including Amelia Earhart, and was flown from Santa Monica to Cleveland. The country watched as these brave women made history flying cross-country, breaking into a competition that was thought to be for men only.
Explore the life of the groundbreaking author of “The Joy Luck Club” in this intimate portrait. Archival imagery, home movies, photographs, animation and original interviews create a vivid, colorful journey through Amy Tan’s inspiring life and career.
Meet the influential author and anthropologist whose work reclaimed and honored Black life. A key figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston is best remembered for her novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” but in her lifetime, she also became known as the foremost authority on Black folklore.
Narrated by actress Jane Lynch, this program tells the wartime stories of more than two dozen women. From members of the U.S. Women’s Army Corps to civilian witnesses in Europe, this hourlong film shows how women were comparable to men in patriotism, service and steadfastness during critical moments.
Celebrate 50 years of female excellence in sports through the eyes of athletes who changed the system. Hosted by sports icon and champion of equality Billie Jean King, the film weaves together eight athletes’ discussions of how their struggles and achievements shaped women’s sports. Features Naomi Osaka, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Chloe Kim, Nancy Lieberman, Suni Lee, Julie Foudy and Diana Flores.
This new drama series is based on the true story of Noele “Nolly” Gordon, one of the most famous faces on British TV in the 1960s and ‘70s, whose unceremonious firing from her hit show at the height of her career was front-page news. A bold exploration of how the establishment turns on women who refuse to play by the rules, the series is an outrageously fun and wildly entertaining ride through Gordon’s most tumultuous years — and a sharp, affectionate and heartbreaking portrait of a forgotten icon.
This documentary is an intimate look into the courageous life and career of beloved Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, known for her roles in classic films such as “Moonstruck” and “Steel Magnolias.”
Dive into this unique collection of visual stories chronicling the life of Queen Elizabeth II. From her birth and days as a young queen in waiting, to her coronation and other major life events, viewers will be mesmerized by this unique documentary.
Small-town girl Sarah Cannon dreamed of becoming a Shakespearean actress; instead, she became famous as the class-act comedian Minnie Pearl. With her signature “how-dee” greeting and price tag dangling from her straw hat, this simple character became an icon of country music through radio, live stage performances and television. The educated, serious Cannon and her playful, uncomplicated alter ego created a legacy of compassion, empowerment and humor. Through this 90-minute documentary, explore how Cannon’s beloved character affected American culture.
Learn the story of one of America’s most talented mid-century ceramicists, Marguerite Wildenhain. Trained at the famed Bauhaus art school in Germany, Wildenhain became the first woman to receive the “master potter” designation in pre-World War II Europe. During the war, Wildenhain fled to America and helped create an experimental artists colony at an isolated ranch in Northern California. She later established the influential Pond Farm Pottery on the same site and ran an annual summer workshop that trained American artists for three decades.
Set in the cutthroat, male-dominated world of high school debate, this special tells the compelling and timely story of five girls on a diverse, top-ranked Massachusetts high school debate team as they strive to become the best debaters in the United States.
Follow the lives of four spirited sisters from a blended family in Durham, North Carolina, as they cope with the anxiety of their disrupted lives and stolen dreams with humor, self-reflection and just enough mayhem to pass the time during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
An unvarnished look at the unlikely author whose autobiographical fiction helped shape American ideas of the frontier and self-reliance. A Western farmwoman who published her first novel at age 65, Laura Ingalls Wilder transformed her frontier childhood into the best-selling “Little House” series.
The film follows award-winning public garden designer Lynden B. Miller as she sets off to explore the remarkable life and career of America’s first female landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, who was responsible for some of the most celebrated gardens in the United States and helped create a distinctive American voice in landscape architecture.
In 1925, Mary Carson Breckinridge led a team of spirited women to Leslie County, Kentucky, and established a demonstration of providing unprecedented health care to rural Appalachia. Together, the women improved the maternal and infant mortality rates, losing just two maternal patients over 12 years.
In 1940, a French-Jewish girl’s dream of becoming a ballerina is cut short by World War II. She vows that if she has daughters, they will become dancers. Nearly 80 years later, she and her two daughters confront the impact of that pledge. This film is a portrait of three women, bonded by the intergenerational trauma of war and uplifted by the resilience of familial love.
Uncover the powerful story of how one of the most impactful, lifesaving tests for women was created and popularized by a Greek immigrant doctor, a Japanese American illustrator, and a Black woman OBGYN. The work of these three life savers slashed death rates of cervical cancer by more than 60 percent.
Artist Georgia O’Keeffe, called the mother of American Modernism, was well-known for her flowing, colorful works depicting flowers and plants, dramatic cityscapes and Southwestern landscapes. This half-hour documentary highlights the artist’s career while focusing on the little-known story of O’Keeffe’s time spent in Columbia, South Carolina, as an art instructor at Columbia College.
Celebrating the significant contributions of Akron women to the city's history. Premiered in 2005.
This production tells the story of the women’s suffrage movement, weaving in stories of Northeast Ohio leaders and pioneers. Premiered in 2017.
Rosie the Riveters in Akron, Ohio, reminisce about Corsairs, rivet guns, pants and more. Premiered in 2018.