Two years ago, Roe v. Wade was overturned, eliminating the federal right to abortion. The overwhelming sense of disappointment upon hearing this news is something I will never forget. At just fifteen—a freshman in high school—I was navigating the common complexities of being a teenager, striving to understand myself and my place in the world. To me, the news was a huge upheaval that left me questioning what I could do to make a difference. With limited experience in public speaking, few connections to organize a protest, and an insufficient social media following for a campaign, I felt powerless. It was then, during my research into the history of abortion rights, that I discovered Gloria Steinem.

In the 1960s, Steinem began her professional career as a journalist in New York, a time when newsrooms were dominated by men and women were mostly confined to secretarial roles. Through sheer determination, she carved out a space for herself. In 1968, she helped found New York Magazine, where she served as an editor and political writer, covering political campaigns and progressive social issues, including the women’s liberation movement. In 1969, she publicly spoke out for the legalization of abortion in New York State, sharing her own experience of having an abortion overseas at the age of twenty-two. Her willingness to raise her voice and empower others inspired me to take action—to not remain silent.

I decided to write. On June 5, 2022, my article was published in the Florida Times-Union. Though I constructed this article when I was younger with fewer resources and less experience, my beliefs remain the same: women should have the right to control their own bodies. Two years ago, I might not have found the courage to voice my opinions if not for the inspiration of women like Gloria Steinem.

Gloria Steinem motivated me to persist, to speak up, and to refuse silence. Yet, her story is often absent from school curriculums, missing the opportunity to inspire countless others like myself. In today's world, our public education is tasked with inspiring our youth. It is important that students leave the classroom not only with knowledge but also with a sense of empowerment, having encountered role models who show them that they too can affect societal change. For many young individuals, these role models can and should be women. Unfortunately, the significant histories of women remain appallingly underrepresented in our modern public school system. 

The current AP United States Government & Politics course includes fourteen Supreme Court cases, none of which address women’s equality. Additionally, none of the nine required foundational documents are written by women. Most of these documents were composed by men in the 18th century, a time when only white, property-owning men were considered citizens of the United States. In 2022, the College Board’s annual program report showed that more women than men were enrolled in APUSH and AP Government courses. Despite female-identifying students outnumbering male-identifying students by 30,000 in these courses, the content remains male-centric.

Implementing AP Women's U.S. History (WAPUSH) in high schools around the nation is critical for providing a more inclusive and thorough view of American history. Kristen Kelly and Serene Williams, high school teachers, launched the Women's History in High School website in 2023 to detail a curriculum that they developed. Their effort began a decade ago, when Kelly, a teacher at Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton, California, experienced difficulty locating a high school textbook that sufficiently addressed women's contributions to history. "How can young women really see their value if they don’t see their place in history?" she wondered. After venting her disappointments to Williams, the two collaborated to design an AP women's history curriculum. They are currently petitioning the College Board, the non-profit organization overseeing Advanced Placement courses, to introduce an AP course focused on U.S. Women's History.

The curriculum begins with an examination of women's roles in indigenous societies such as the Haudenosaunee and Cherokee, emphasizing matrilineal structures and early cultural exchanges. It discusses their roles as healers and midwives, as well as the intellectual contributions of early feminist scholars such as Gerda Lerner and Sally Roesch Wagner. The curriculum examines women's changing contributions during colonialism, the Revolutionary War, abolitionism, the Civil War, and both World Wars. It discusses key moments like the Seneca Falls Convention and suffrage movements, as well as the intersections of women's activism with other social movements like the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, before concluding with a section on contemporary issues and feminists like Gloria Steinem. The youth of America deserve to hear these stories—the history of fifty percent of our population that is currently overshadowed by male-dominated narratives.

However, getting the Department of Education to approve this class will be challenging. Just last year, on January 12, 2023, the Florida Department of Education banned the pilot AP African American Studies course from high schools, claiming it lacked educational value. It is my hope that we can step up as a state to empower our youth and not shy away from the history of our country. How can the next generation progress if they are unaware of the historical figures and events that paved the way for their opportunities? What are we trying to hide?

To advocate for the implementation of AP Women’s U.S. History, I encourage everyone to rally support through letter-writing campaigns, petitions, and vocal advocacy. If you wish to contribute to the expansion and pilot program of WAPUSH, please sign the petition here: www.wapush.org.