Women Who Have Changed History
Throughout history, women have been catalysts for change, shaping the world with their resilience, intellect and determination. Iowa PBS programming celebrates these remarkable individuals who defied societal norms and blazed trails in various fields, leaving an indelible mark on history. Here’s what you can watch and stream to celebrate Women’s History Month!
Documentaries
American Experience: Fly With Me
"Fly With Me" chronicles the journey of trailblazing women who broke barriers to become flight attendants during a time when societal norms restricted the freedoms of single women. In an era where ordering a drink, dining alone, owning a credit card, or accessing birth control posed challenges, these women seized the opportunity to embark on a career that offered unprecedented travel and independence.
Reel South: Winn
After experiencing neglect and traumatic loss while pregnant in prison, Pamela Winn becomes an activist, leading hundreds of thousands to support the Dignity Bill to end the shackling of pregnant people in prison.
Becoming Frida Kahlo
Explore the early life of Frida Kahlo as she discovers her genius for painting following a tragic, life-changing accident, leading her to encounter world-famous muralist Diego Rivera who she later marries, twice.
American Masters: Roberta Flack
Follow music icon Roberta Flack from a piano lounge through her rise to stardom. From “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” to “Killing Me Softly,” Flack’s virtuosity was inseparable from her commitment to civil rights. Detailing her story in her own work the film features exclusive access to Flack’s archive.
American Experience: The Vote: Part 1
One hundred years after the passage of the 19th Amendment, The Vote tells the dramatic culmination story of the hard-fought campaign waged by American women for the right to vote, a transformative cultural and political movement.
Carrie Chapman Catt: Warrior for Women
Catt devoted most of her life to the expansion of women’s rights nationwide and around the world, and is recognized as one of the key leaders of the American women’s suffrage movement. Her political strategies and organizational skills led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution 100 years ago on August 18, 1920.
Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl
The life and work of Sarah Cannon, aka country music comedian Minnie Pearl. With her “Howdee” greeting and price tag dangling from her straw hat, this beloved character was an instantly recognizable icon of country radio, stage and TV.
Dramas Based on Historical Events
Land Girls
Follow the lives, loves, highs, and lows of members of the Women's Land Army working at the Hoxley Estate during World War II. As men fought on the battlefields, women from all walks of life worked the farms that fed the nation, doing their part to keep the home front running.
Nolly reveals the 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, Nolly is an outrageously fun and wildly entertaining ride through Gordon’s most tumultuous years.