Why Women’s Stories Still Need Defending
International Women’s Day isn’t just about celebration. It’s about power — who has it, who’s denied it, and whose voices are allowed to be heard.
In 2026, women’s voices are still at the center of public debate — not only in legislatures and workplaces, but on library shelves.
Across the country, books written by women — especially those who write about bodies, identity, race, gender, sexuality, trauma, and lived experience — are being challenged, restricted, and removed from schools. When women tell the truth about their lives, those stories are often labeled “inappropriate,” “controversial,” or “too much.”
That makes International Women’s Day more relevant than ever.
How It Started
International Women’s Day began in the early 1900s, rooted in labor movements and suffrage campaigns led by women demanding fair wages, voting rights, and safe working conditions.
What started as protests for dignity and equality grew into a global observance on March 8 — a day to honor women’s achievements while continuing the push for full participation in civic, economic, and cultural life.
At its heart, International Women’s Day has always been about access:
Access to rights.
Access to opportunity.
Access to voice.
Today, that includes access to books.
How It’s Going
Recent waves of book removals across multiple states have disproportionately affected books by women authors — particularly:
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Stories about reproductive health
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Novels centering girls navigating adolescence
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Books addressing sexual assault survival
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Works by women of color
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LGBTQ+ stories written by women
When titles by authors like Judy Blume, Toni Morrison, and Margaret Atwood are challenged or removed, it sends a message about whose experiences are considered acceptable — and whose are not.
Censorship doesn’t just remove pages from shelves. It narrows empathy. It limits understanding. It erases lived experience.
A Few Women Authors to Spotlight This Month
This March, we’re celebrating women whose writing has shaped generations of readers:
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Toni Morrison — lyrical, uncompromising stories about identity, history, and humanity
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Judy Blume — honest, funny, life-changing books that respect young readers
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Margaret Atwood — sharp, imaginative work that asks big questions about power and freedom
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Angie Thomas — contemporary stories that connect directly to real life for teens and families
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Malinda Lo — genre-bending YA with rich characters and inclusive storytelling
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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — clear-eyed, moving writing about culture, politics, and belonging
Their stories matter. And so do the stories of emerging women authors whose books are being challenged today.
Join Us March 8: Pop Up Market Book Giveaway
To close out International Women’s Day, Annie’s Foundation will be participating in the annual Big Grove Pop Up Market on Sunday, March 8 — and we’ll be doing what we do best:
📚 Giving away banned and challenged books by women authors
✨ Titles for multiple age groups
💛 Come say hi, grab a book, and help us keep these stories accessible
Because celebrating women means defending their right to tell their stories.
A small sampling of the titles we will be making available at the Pop Up Market:
