Here's to International Women's Day and to the Biopics that Never Were

"The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights" (Gloria Steinem)

International Women's Day has been observed since the turn of the 20th century, back when the early feminist movement was working tirelessly for women's suffrage. Now, 100-and-something years later, women are still fighting to be recognized on equal grounds as men in all fields of endeavor. The film industry has some of the worst statistics concerning gender inequality. Not only are films not being made by women, but comparatively few movies tell women's stories.

When considering film roles Katharine Hepburn never played for the Imaginary Film Blogathon, I got to thinking about how few biopics there are about female historic figures. Not only do movies about the lives of our significant citizens teach us about the great men of history, they also give us role models and teach us how much a human being can do with a single lifetime. We've seen dozens of pictures about the world's famous statesmen, sportsmen, and military men, but as Abigail Adams once entreated to her husband:

"remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to then than your ancestors... If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice or Representation."

I have put together a list of notable women whose stories should be told on film. Some of these women do make cursory appearances in our history textbooks, but it is very difficult to grasp the enormity and significance of their contributions without the full narrative arch of their stories. A lot of these women can be found in the National Women's Hall of Fame. If you would like to submit names to this list, let me know in the comments section below and I will add your contributions as they come in. READ MORE