March is Women’s History Month — celebrated in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia since 1978, when it began as Women’s History Week — and it’s all about shining the spotlight on the contributions of women in history and contemporary society. But really, what’s important is that we take a step back and recognize not only how far women have come but also how far we have to go. There have been plenty of educational and informative movies and documentaries that celebrate influential female figures throughout history. But when it comes to television, it’s nice to pay homage to strong females by sitting back and relaxing with an entertaining series that celebrates independent, influential, and encouraging women from the past, present, and fictional worlds.
Looking more inspiring content to watch? We’ve also rounded up the best movies to stream for Women’s History Month.
Mrs. America
Beyond the A-list cast, this historical drama could not be more fitting for Women’s History Month. It delves into the political movement that took place in the ’70s to pass the Equal Rights Amendment that would guarantee equal rights for both men and women. While the focus is on Phyllis Schlafly, a controversial conservative activist who campaigned to ratify the amendment to the constitution, the miniseries also features prominent feminists from that era, like Gloria Steinem and Shirley Chisholm. Keep in mind that it’s a dramatization of the story, but it still highlights an important period in history for women. It’s no surprise that this miniseries, delivered in nine parts, received 10 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and was named by the American Film Institute as one of the 10 best from 2020.
Created by: Dahvi Waller
Cast: Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, Kayli Carter, Ari Graynor, Melanie Lynskey, Margo Martindale, John Slattery, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tracey Ullman, Sarah Paulson
Number of seasons: 1
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Yes, it’s a comedy about, well, comedy. But beneath the constant laughs is an important story about a woman who bucked conventions. While the creators have never confirmed that the main character, Midge Maisel, is based, loosely or not, on any early-day female stand-up comedian, there are parallels with people like Jean Carroll and Joan Rivers. Set in the ’50s, after her husband leaves her for his secretary, Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) discovers her talent for stand-up comedy. A local comedy club manager (Alex Borstein), also female, sees potential and decides to take Midge under her wing. As the two try desperately to make it in a male-dominated industry, they face hurdles and crash down walls. It’s an inspiring story delivered with a healthy dose of laughter.
Created by: Amy Sherman-Palladino
Cast: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle, Tony Shalhoub, Kevin Pollak, Caroline Aaron, Jane Lynch
Number of seasons: 3
Fleabag
The perfect series for the confident, modern-day woman who is comfortable with her sexuality, this series is not only a great choice to watch for Women’s History Month because of the show itself but also in recognition of creator and executive producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who has become an inspiration for other women in the entertainment industry due to her many accomplishments. A British black comedy, the story is based on Bridge’s one-woman stage show and follows the title character, a free-spirited, sexually-awoken young woman living in London just trying to make it through day-to-day life. It’s one of the few series that maintains a solid 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it “clever and viciously funny.”
Created by: Pheobe Waller-Bridge
Cast: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Sian Clifford, Olivia Colman, Bill Paterson, Brett Gelman, Hugh Skinner
Number of seasons: 2
Good Girls Revolt
Inspired by the Lynn Povich book of the same name and based on events from real life, Good Girls Revolt is set in 1969 when several young women are working at News of the Week magazine. While many of these women are better educated and more talented than the male reporters, they remain stuck in low-level, lower-paying jobs. What’s more, they end up writing much of the content the men use in their authored stories yet don’t get any credit. Often compared to Mad Men but told from a female perspective, the series brings attention to the still-relevant issues of equal pay and recognition in the workplace.
Created by: Dana Calvo
Cast: Genevieve Angelson, Anna Camp, Erin Darke, Hunter Parrish, Chris Diamantopoulos, Joy Bryant
Number of seasons: 1
The Great
Catherine the Great, Empress of All Russia, went from being an outsider to the longest-running female ruler in the history of Russia following a coup d’etat that ousted her husband. In power from 1762 to 1796, she has been credited with helping the country grow, revitalize, and flourish. While this series is satire and dubbed a comedy-drama, it’s loosely based on a real-life character. And when thinking back to important women in history, The Great brings to light one of, well, the greats.
Created by: Tony McNamara
Cast: Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Sacha Dhawan, Charity Wakefield, Gwilym Lee, Adam Godley, Douglas Hodge, Belinda Bromilow, Richard Pyros
Number of seasons: 1
Dickinson
Emily Dickinson grew up in the 18th century, an aspiring poet who fought against traditional conventions, including the expected tasks of women and her parents’ desire to marry her off. Instead, Emily loved to immerse herself in her poetry. This comedy takes place during the 19th century and adds a modern and humorous spin to the tale, showcasing a version of Emily as she deals with the typical trials and tribulations of coming-of-age. In reality, Dickinson was alleged to be an eccentric recluse who, similarly to in the series, had a very close relationship with her sister-in-law and muse, Susan. While the interpretation in this series is fiction, it’s a look back at a young woman who carved her own path and whose true talent was not discovered and recognized publicly until after her death.
Created by: Alena Smith
Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Toby Huss, Adrian Blake Enscoe, Anna Baryshnikov, Ella Hunt, Jane Krakowski
Number of seasons: 2
The Wilds
An interesting inclusion on this list, The Wilds has been called Lord of the Flies but with girls. At the heart of the story is a group of troubled young women, all from different walks of life, whose parents send them on a retreat designed to heal them and get them out of their respective funks. But when the plane crashes on a deserted island, and the girls are forced to fend for themselves and deal with their own demons, truths are revealed, and the challenges of being a teenage woman are brought to light. At the heart is a story of feminism and one woman’s desire to prove, through unconventional methods, that when pushed to their limits, women can prevail.
Created by: Sarah Streicher
Cast: Sophia Ali, Shannon Berry, Jenna Clause, Reign Edwards, Mia Healey, Helena Howard, Erana James, Sarah Pidgeon, David Sullivan, Troy Winbush, Rachel Griffiths
Number of seasons: 1
Diary of a Future President
Looking for something to watch with your kids to celebrate Women’s History Month? This comedy-drama is all about 12-year-old Elana, who, like many children, has big dreams of one day becoming president. The series is presented through voice-overs and read passages from Elena’s diary, with Gina Rodriguez as an older version of Elena in the future, having officially fulfilled her dream. It’s an inspiring story that not only teaches kids to follow their dreams but also shows a young girl going through all the typical things women can relate to, from emotions running high to stress and people who try to hold her back. It’s the perfect feel-good series to watch with the entire family this month. The series has been lauded by critics and audiences alike.
Created by: Ilana Pena
Cast: Tess Romero, Selenis Leyva, Charlie Bushnell, Michael Weaver
Number of seasons: 1
Sex and the City
Questionable ending aside, if there was ever a series that promoted female empowerment, it was this one. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte were 30- and 40-something single women living in New York City and navigating their busy careers, social lives, and dating. Every female fan felt like she could relate to one of these women or possessed a mix of qualities of each. But what stood out was that each woman followed her own path and was unapologetic about her journey and choices. Even without the ridiculously expensive wardrobes, high-flying careers, and steady revolving door of dates, every woman aspired to be like these fierce and confident ones from the trailblazing series that made viewers stand up and pay attention to HBO as a provider of fabulous original television content.
Created by: Darren Star
Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristen David, Cynthia Nixon
Number of seasons: 6
I May Destroy You
Snubbed at the Golden Globes, vocal activist, feminist, and actor Jane Fonda made sure to call out this British series and its powerful message. Creator Michaela Coel uses the 12 episodes of this drama to tell a fictionalized version of her own personal tale of being raped. Arabella, her character, blacks out during a night out with friends and slowly begins to recall the events that occurred. The story that follows is an honest, emotional depiction of a young woman dealing with the trauma of having been violated in more ways than one. Yet Coel manages to tell a very serious story in a way that has been praised for being both dark and uncomfortable as well as hilarious. It’s a fine line that Coel balances beautifully.
Created by: Michaela Coel
Cast: Michaela Coel, Weruche Opia, Paapa Essiedu
Number of seasons: 1
Unbelievable
Following several rapes in Washington, two female detectives investigate while a teenage victim who comes forward is accused of lying. It’s an interesting story that navigates every side of the female experience when it comes to rape and sexual assault cases. Drawn from the T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” and their book A False Report, the series has been called both heartbreaking and powerful. A great option for fans of the true-crime genre, this one puts a spin on an oft-told story that actually sheds light on female survivors and their stories.
Created by: Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman, Michael Chabon
Cast: Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever
Number of seasons: 1
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
When it comes to groundbreaking women in entertainment, one who often comes to mind is Mary Tyler Moore. The premise of her namesake series sounds humdrum today, but in the early ’70s, the idea of a young career woman rising up the ranks at a news program with no desire to fill the typical female role turned heads. The sitcom went on to be considered one of the best series of all time. Moore, who died in 2017, was and remains to this day an inspiration to young comedians and actors, female and male alike.
Created by: James L. Brooks, Allan Burns
Cast: Mary Tyler Moore, Edward Asner, Gavin MacLeod, Ted Knight, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Georgia Engel, Betty White.
Number of seasons: 7
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