Why Young Men in the US Should Pay Attention to and Advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment
July 23, 2024
By Ava Lee-Green
In celebration of International Children’s Book Day on April 2, here are seven new and old books to teach your kids about equality:Â
Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight by Jen Bryant recalls the life and career of Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first Asian American woman elected to US Congress. During her time in Congress, she helped create Title IX, a law that required all schools to treat all students the same regardless of sex.Â
The Family Book by Todd Parr was a staple of my childhood. It celebrates the many different make-ups of a family and encourages kids to ask questions about their own families. The Family Book also teaches the importance of embracing different communities, cultures, and family structures.Â
F is for Feminism: An Alphabet Book of Empowerment by Carolyn Suzuki provides an A-Z list of empowering words about social justice and feminism. F is for Feminism is a great way to introduce kids to activism and standing up for what they believe in.
Where are You From? by Yamile Saied MĂ©ndez follows a young girl as she discovers who she is and her background. This book is a great way to introduce intersectionality because it explores how a person can have many different identities.Â
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History, Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World, and Dream Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison features over a hundred stories of trailblazers, leaders, feminists, and civil rights activists. This trilogy tells the stories of both famous and lesser-known women who did extraordinary things in history.
She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton commemorates many of the women who have helped shape the US. It tells stories about those who spoke up after being told to stay quiet and how they overcame the many challenges of being a woman to reach their dreams.Â
Equality’s Call by Deborah Diesen is a story about voting rights in the US. Although the words “all men are equal” are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, many communities have had to fight for their right to vote. This book provides a chronological history of how different minority communities fought for their voting rights beginning in the Revolutionary War.Â
