Organizations and Resources
That Support Women

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This month take a moment to reflect on all the ways that women have left their mark throughout history. Consider lending your support to organizations that are tirelessly working toward gender equality, women’s rights, and education.  Promote and invest in women-owned businesses.  And celebrate women through arts and entertainment, whether you’re reading biographies on iconic women, or learning about their struggles through documentaries and historic films.
 
Use the links below for a sampling of resources to get started.

• ARTS​
  • Artists
  • Books
  • Documentaries
  • Films
  • Television/Miniseries
• BUSINESSES
• CHARITIES & NON-PROFITS

 
This is an evolving list that will be updated periodically. If you have suggestions you would like to see included on the list, please email DEI@essex.com.
 

ARTS

Artists Wendy Red Star Guadalupe Rosales Suzanne Lacy Tschabalala Self Lee Bontecou Sally Mann Yun Suknam Vanessa Endeley Whitney Avara Ewelina Skowronska

Books

“Becoming” by Michelle Obama Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming” has the former FLOTUS discussing her childhood, family, motherhood, her own FLOTUS impact, the pressures of being part of the first Black family in the White House and balancing her public life now. And of course, she writes all about meeting her husband and the many unique challenges they faced too.

“Celestial Bodies” by Jokha Alharthi Groundbreaking for many reasons is the book “Celestial Bodies” by Jokha Alharthi, the first Omani woman to have a novel translated into English. The novel follows the drastically different lives of three sisters, also offering readers a glimpse into the rapidly changing society within Oman. It’s the first book translated from the Arabic to win the Man Booker International Prize.

“Hood Feminism” by Mikki Kendall Kendall’s “Hood Feminism” takes a critical magnifying glass to mainstream feminism and what she believes to be its “glaring blind spot,” asserting that the goals of feminism today only seek to benefit the few. How can we stand in solidarity as a movement, Kendall asks, when there is the distinct likelihood that some women are oppressing others?

“La Paloma Y La Ley” by Lisette Poole This extremely visual book by photographer Lisette Poole follows two women, Marta and Liset, who left Cuba in May 2016 with no plan, just the name of a coyote — a human smuggler — scribbled on a piece of paper and a dream to make it to the US. They hoped to arrive before the imminent end of “wet foot, dry foot,” a policy that fast-tracked Cubans to asylum and permanent residency. “La Paloma Y La Ley” is an intimate, hard to fathom look into their 51-day journey through 13 countries, across 10 borders and six days in the Darien Gap — a roadless stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama, trying to make it to the place where they can find the American dream.

“My Beloved World” by Sonia Sotomayor From her early life to where she is today, this captivating memoir gives readers a look into the life of Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and third female judge on the United States Supreme Court. Throughout this read, Sotomayor shares her experiences overcoming barriers both women and minorities face in everyday life, and how she went from a precarious childhood to working her way through education and jobs that would eventually lead to fulfilling her dream of becoming a lawyer and one of the country’s most influential judges.

“My Own Words” by Ruth Bader Ginsburg In this witty, engaging, New York Times-bestselling book, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg discusses gender equality and the work of the Supreme Court as well as her own fascinating personal life and the impact of her Jewish faith.

“Spinster: Making a Life of One’s Own” by Kate Bolick Some want to marry, while others choose to lead an independent life on their own. In this witty conversation starter, author and journalist Kate Bolick uses her life as an example for why there’s a growing population of women that chooses to remain unmarried, and how women can savor these years and their lives in a wholly fulfilling way.

“The Moment of Lift” by Melinda Gates Empowering women across the world, Melinda Gates writes this book with a focus around gender equality and empathy. Combining scientific data and stories alike, “The Moment of Lift” highlights her experience with inequality in the workplace and humanitarian work.

“The Secret History of Wonder Woman” by Jill Lepore In this book about the popular superhero character, we learn the parallels between Wonder Woman and the fight for women’s rights. Lepore argues that Wonder Woman is a kind of missing link in our rights’ history and details the creator of the comic book hit and his own relationship with powerful women.

“We Should All Be Feminists” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie In this longform essay, which was adapted from Adichie’s viral Tedx talk by the same name, she draws from her experience being born in Nigeria and moving to the US at age 19, offering a unique, new definition of feminism for the 21st century.

Documentaries

!Women Art Revolution (2010) Tracks the feminist art movement over 40 years through interviews with artists, curators, critics, and historians.  Available on: Pluto TV, Tubi, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes

Miss Representation (2011) This film portrays the struggles that women go through every day. The film explores how mass media contributes to the under-representation of women in influential positions by circulating exploitation of women in mass media.  Available on: Kanopy, iTunes

Girl Rising (2013) The movie tells the stories of nine girls from nine countries: Sierra Leone, Haiti, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Peru, Egypt, Nepal, Cambodia). Each girl had her story written by a writer from her country and voiced by renowned actors. Their stories reflect their struggles to overcome societal or cultural barriers.   Available on: Pluto TV, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, iTunes

Vessel (2014) Focusing on the work of women on waves, a Dutch pro-choice organization founded by the Netherlands physician Rebecca Gomperts in 1999.  Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, Apple TV+

Advanced Style (2014) Advanced Style examines the lives of seven unique New Yorkers whose eclectic personal style and vital spirit have guided their approach to aging.  Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Vudu, Google Play

She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry (2014) American documentary about some of the women involved in the second wave feminism movement in the United States of America.  Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play

A Ballerina’s Tale (2015) Documentary film revolving around the career of Misty Copeland, who serves as the narrator of the film as well as its subject.   Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Sling TV, Google Play

A Path Appears (2015) Path Appears follows Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn and a group of dedicated actor/advocates to Colombia, Haiti, Kenya, and throughout the United States. They uncover the harshest forms of gender inequality, the devastating impact of poverty and the ripple effects that follow: including sex trafficking, teen-pregnancy, gender-based violence, child slavery and the effective solutions being forged to combat them.  Available on: Kanopy, Amazon Prime Video

He Named Me Malala (2015) The film presents the young Pakistani, who has spoken out for the rights of girls, especially the right to education, since she was very young. The film also recounts how she miraculously survived and has become even more eloquent in her quest after being hunted down and shot by a gunman as part of the organization's violent opposition to girls' education.   Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Vudu, Google Play

Tig (2015) After comic Tig Notaro is diagnosed with stage II breast cancer, she creates a poignant stand-up set that becomes legendary overnight.  Available on: Netflix

Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise (2016) This unprecedented film celebrates Dr. Maya Angelou by weaving her words with rare and intimate archival photographs and videos, which paint hidden moments of her exuberant life during some of America’s most defining moments. From her upbringing in the Depression-era South to her work with Malcolm X in Ghana, the film takes us on an incredible journey through the life of a true American icon.  Available on: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Google Play

Feminists: What Were They Thinking? (2018) Women of different ages and backgrounds are interviewed by Demetrakas and a team of assistants on the subject of feminism, anchored in the book 'Emergence' with portraits published in 1977.  Available on: Netflix

The Lady and the Dale (2021) The story of Elizabeth Carmichael, who released a fuel-efficient vehicle during the 1970s gas crisis; as she wins over major car makers and investors, a web of mystery unfolds regarding the car's technology and Carmichael's surprising past.  Available on: HBO Max

Films

A League of Their Own (1992) Daring female athletes win over a skeptical public and lead their team to victory in the WWII-era women's baseball league.  Directed by: Penny Marshall Story by: Kelly Candaele and Kim Wilson Available on: YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video

Joy Luck Club (1993) Looks at the complicated relationship between Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters.  Directed by: Wayne Wang Story by: Amy Tan Available on: YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video

Monsoon Wedding (2001) Ensemble comedy about a Punjabi family uniting for the wedding of a family member in Delhi.  Directed by: Mira Nair Available on: YouTube, Google Play, Amazon Prime Video

Lost in Translation (2003) Two strangers, one an aging movie star, the other a neglected newlywed, have a chance meeting in Tokyo where they both find escape and distraction from their lonely lives.  Directed by: Sofia Coppola Available on: Peacock

Carol (2015) Set in New York City during the early 1950s, Carol tells the story of a forbidden affair between an aspiring female photographer and an older woman going through a difficult divorce.  Directed by: Todd Haynes Written by: Phyllis Nagy Available on: Netflix, Apple TV+, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video, iTunes

Hidden Figures (2017) The story of three Black women who helped cement the United States as a technological superpower during the space race between America and the Soviet Union in the 1960s, and who were instrumental in helping John Glenn become the first American to orbit Earth in 1962.  Directed by: Theodore Melfi Written by: Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi Available on: Disney+, FXNOW

Wonder Woman (2017) Full feature film on the popular DC female superhero, Diana (aka Wonder Woman), who leaves her Amazon home to fight a war only to find herself and destiny.  Directed by: Patty Jenkins Available on: HBO Max

On the Basis of Sex (2018) True story of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and how she overcame struggles with equal rights during the early stages of her historic career leading to being confirmed as a US Supreme Court Justice.  Directed by: Mimi Leder Available on: Showtime

Little Women (2019) The beloved story of the March sisters, four young women, each trying to live life their own way.  Directed by: Greta Gerwig Available on: Starz

One Night in Miami (2020) Fictional account of a night where legends Muhammad Ali, Malcom X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown gather to discuss the Civil Rights Movement and culture in the 1960s.  Directed by: Regina King Available on: Amazon Prime Video

Nomadland (2020) Woman goes on a nomadic journey in a van through the American West after losing everything during the recession.  Directed by: Chloe Zhou Available on: Hulu

Television/Miniseries

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015-2019) The series follows 29-year-old Kimmy Schmidt as she adjusts to life after her rescue from a doomsday cult in the fictional town of Durnsville, Indiana, where she and three other women were held by Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne for 15 years. Determined to be something other than a victim and armed only with a positive attitude, Kimmy decides to restart her life by moving to New York City.  Available on: Netflix

The Good Place (2016-2020) The plot follows Eleanor Shellstrop, a woman welcomed after her death to "the Good Place", a highly selective Heaven-like utopia designed and run by afterlife "architect" Michael as a reward for her righteous life. However, she realizes that she was sent there by mistake and must hide her morally imperfect past behavior while trying to become a better and more ethical person.  Available on: Netflix, Apple TV+, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-) Taking place in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the series follows Miriam "Midge" Maisel, a young, upper class Jewish American housewife living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan who after being left by her husband of four years discovers she has a knack for stand-up comedy and pursues a career in it.  Available on: Amazon Prime Video

Dickinson (2019-) The series uses modern sensibility and tone to take viewers into the world of Emily Dickinson, audaciously exploring the constraints of society, gender, and family from the perspective of a budding writer who doesn't fit in to her own time through her imaginative point of view.  Available on: Apple TV+

The Great (2020-) A satirical, comedic drama loosely based on the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest-reigning female ruler in Russia's history. The series is fictionalized and portrays Catherine in her youth and marriage with Emperor Peter III focusing on the plot to kill her depraved and dangerous husband.  Available on: Hulu, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV+, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video

Mrs. America (2020) The series details the political movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and the unexpected backlash led by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly in the 1970s.  Available on: Hulu, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV+, Vudu, Amazon Prime Video

The Queen's Gambit (2020) A coming-of-age period drama miniseries based on Walter Tevis's 1983 novel of the same name. The title refers to "Queen's Gambit", a chess opening. Beginning in the mid-1950s and proceeding into the 1960s, the story follows the life of Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphaned chess prodigy on her rise to the top of the chess world while struggling with drug and alcohol dependency.  Available on: Netflix

BUSINESSES

Women Owned National Women Business Directory Ladies Take the Lead Her Business Listings Directory   50 Female Entrepreneurs Everyone Should Know Women Owned Small Businesses List How to Support Women Owned Businesses

CHARITIES & NON-PROFITS

Alexandria House (Based in Los Angeles) Provides a safe and supportive place for women and children who are transitioning out of shelters. In addition to housing and community support, the charity offers women financial management, goal-setting processes, child care, counseling and health care. They also provide access to resources such as job search assistance, education, legal counsel, advocacy, and skills building. Alexandria House has an impressive track record since its founding in 1996: More than 92% of the women who participate in the program secure financial stability and permanent housing.

Black Women’s Health Imperative The only organization focusing on healthcare for our nation's black women and girls. Their mission is "to lead the effort to solve the most pressing health issues that affect Black women and girls in the U.S." through programs and policies.

Breast Cancer Research Foundation The Breast Cancer Research Foundation aims to prevent and cure breast cancer through elevating cancer research efforts. The organization funds over 275 researchers in 14 countries and has raised more than $700 million in its lifetime.

Compass Family Services (Based in San Francisco) Their mission is to help homeless and at-risk families become stably housed, emotionally and physically healthy, and economically self-sufficient.

Dress for Success Dress for Success aims to "empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life."

Every Mother Counts A global organization founded by Christy Turlington Burns, they are focused on bringing maternal health issues to light and advocating for policy change. Donations and support to this charity go to providing public education, community engagement and grant making. During COVID-19, Every Mother Counts has been focusing on finding new ways to support mothers during this difficult time.

Futures Without Violence A social justice organization, Futures Without Violence, addresses some of the most high-profile issues today. From violence in the workplace to human trafficking, to bullying, to domestic violence, this organization fights on all fronts.

Girls Inc Girls Inc. is an organization dedicated to raising a strong generation of women. By partnering with schools and Girls Inc. centers, they focus on development, with mentoring relationships, a pro-girl environment, and research-based programming to help girls get through it all. They also work to advocate for legislation and policies to increase opportunities for all girls out there.

Girls Who Code Girls Who Code is a non-profit that aims to increase the number of women in computer science. According to ComputerScience.org, only 20% of computer science professionals are women. Girls Who Code works to combat this disparity by hosting workshops, building a network of alumni, and creating pathways to employment within computing.

Good+Foundation Founded by Jessica Seinfeld in 2001, the mission of the organization is to stop multi-generational poverty by providing goods and services to families in need. Right now, Good+ is partnering with front-line workers to get donations such as baby food and diapers to families in need. Since the pandemic started, they have also donated almost $125,000 in emergency grants to help parents struggling to make rent or buy groceries.

Jubilees Women’s Center (Based in Seattle) Their goal is to empower women with the time and tools to heal from the past, and to see the possibilities in their future. They support women experiencing poverty to build stable and fulfilling futures one extraordinary woman at a time.

Live Your Dream Live Your Dream is a community that supports and encourages women and girls to dream bigger than the circumstances or beliefs that may be limiting them. The charitable organization does this through support groups, awareness and advocacy efforts, and financial support.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Women are unfortunately affected by domestic violence every day. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence works to support the efforts that demand changes and they also support survivors and advocates. They have programs that help survivors, webinars and conferences to get inspired and learn, and more.

National Women’s Law Center The National Women's Law Center is a D.C.-based nonprofit that uses the legal system to tackle discrimination and injustice against women. The center is currently backing the Strengthening Reproductive Health Services Amendment Act, which "prohibits the District government from interfering with reproductive health decisions and from imposing punishments or penalties for a self-managed abortion, miscarriage, or adverse pregnancy outcomes."

Planned Parenthood Though Planned Parenthood is well known, the organization can still use all the help it can get in its fight to protect women's reproductive rights and provide affordable sexual health care.

RAINN RAINN, or The Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, is the largest national organization dedicated to eradicating sexual violence. RAINN runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline and carries out various programs to prevent sexual violence, provide support for survivors, and seek justice.

San Diego Women Veteran's Network (Based in San Diego) San Diego Women Veteran's Network creates belonging and community for women veterans. The organization engages service providers for women veterans for collaboration and create a network of support for women veterans in San Diego county.

Step Up Step Up is an organization that helps girls go to school and get a higher education. They work with girls who live or go to school in under-resourced communities and make sure they fulfill their potential by offering programs and opportunities that help them go to college, get focused on a career, and become successful, professional women of the future.

The Breathe Network The organization offers trauma-informed, holistic methods to help survivors of sexual violence heal in ways that allow each woman to reclaim her body, mind, confidence and power. More than a hotline, The Breathe Network focuses on meaningful and sustained healing. It matches women in need with appropriate experts and advocates for sliding-scale costs so that no one goes without the long-term help they need. Techniques offered include yoga, art therapy , acupuncture, and psychotherapy, among others.

The Malala Fund Founded by Malala and Ziauddin Yousafzai in 2013, was created to "champion every girl's right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education." The organization pursues this goal by investing in educators around the world, advocating for policy changes, and sharing stories from girls themselves.

The Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network International The Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network International is a climate justice-based initiative established to unite women worldwide as powerful stakeholders in sustainability solutions, policy advocacy, and worldwide movement building for social and ecologic justice.

Women’s Funding Network (Based in San Fransicso) As a global network and a movement for social justice, Women's Funding Network accelerates women's leadership and invests in solving critical social issues-from poverty to global security-by bringing together the financial power, influence and voices of more than 100 women's foundations and gender equity funders.

WriteGirl (Based in Los Angeles) WriteGirl has an important mission: to promote writing and self-expression as a means for empowering girls. This LA-based program provides mentors, workshops, and other educational opportunities for more than 500 girls annually.