Our Women's History Month Programming
Daniel Hautzinger
March 5, 2020
March is Women's History Month, and we're celebrating with all sorts of programming: appreciative looks at some of America's funniest women, profiles of literary landmarks, documentaries looking at the dearth of women in various positions, a beloved British series, and even a PBS Kids special. Find it all here.
Betty White: First Lady of Television
Saturday, March 7 at 2:00 pm on WTTW11
Carol Burnett: A Celebration
Saturday, March 7 at 3:30 pm on WTTW11
March 7 offers celebrations of two of America’s funniest women: Betty White, with her astoundingly long career, and the influential, legendary Carol Burnett.
Summoned: Frances Parker and the General Welfare
Saturday, March 7 at 4:00 pm on WTTW Prime
Frances Perkins was the first woman appointed to the U.S. Cabinet, serving as FDR’s Labor Secretary. She was an integral part of FDR’s New Deal, drafting legislation such as Social Security and minimum wage laws, helping to create the Public Works Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps, and more. Plus, she was a resident of Chicago’s Hull House for a while.
Great Performances: Joni 75 – A Birthday Celebration
Saturday, March 7 at 5:00 pm on WTTW11
A wide-ranging roster of artists came together in November 2018 to celebrate Joni Mitchell’s 75th birthday in Los Angeles, performing her poignant and cleverly crafted songs in this concert. Norah Jones, Chaka Khan, Diana Krall, Seal, James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, and more joined in.
Raising Ms. President
Saturday, March 7 at 5:00 pm on WTTW Prime
The United States ranks 97th out of 190 countries in the number of women in elected office. Why don’t more women run for office, and why does research suggest that women often consider themselves under-qualified to serve as a politician? Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and others are featured.
Louisa May Alcott: American Masters
Saturday, March 7 at 6:00 pm on WTTW Prime
You know her as the author of the childhood-defining book Little Women, but she also wrote scandalous novels under a pseudonym. In the wake of Greta Gerwig’s lauded film adaptation of Little Women, re-examine Alcott’s life.
Harper Lee: American Masters
Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 pm on WTTW Prime
To Kill a Mockingbird won a Pulitzer Prize, is read in countless schools, was voted America’s favorite novel, and has been adapted into a beloved film as well as a play. Why didn’t Harper Lee write more after it? And why does her novel have such staying power?
Margaret Mitchell: American Masters
Saturday, March 7 at 9:00 pm on WTTW Prime
The third author featured in a row of back-to-back documentaries on WTTW Prime on March 7, Mitchell, like Harper Lee, had a limited output: she only wrote Gone with the Wind. Yet the book has lasted, and also inspired its own acclaimed film.
Amelia Earhart: American Experience
Sunday, March 8 at 11:00 pm on WTTW Prime
One of the most famous aviators the world has ever known, Amelia Earhart broke boundaries and records before mysteriously disappearing during an attempted solo flight around the world. Revisit her life.
Makers
Saturdays, March 14 and 21 at 7:00 pm, 8:00 pm, and 9:00 pm on WTTW Prime
Over these six episodes, meet pioneering women in all sorts of fields: comedy, Hollywood, space, politics, business, and war, and celebrate their myriad achievements.
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
Saturday, March 14 at 11:00 pm on WTTW Prime
Another festive look at one of America’s influential funny women: the hilarious Mary Tyler Moore.
A Fine Line: A Woman’s Place Is in the Kitchen
Sunday, March 15 at 11:00 pm on WTTW Prime
Women have traditionally run kitchens in the home, but their culinary ambitions have been confined to that domestic sphere: less than 7% of head chefs and restaurant owners are women. Why? Lidia Bastianich, Dominique Crenn, and others weigh in while the story of a single mother and restaurateur demonstrates the challenges facing women in the restaurant world.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President
Monday, March 16 at 9:00 am and more on WTTW11
The PBS Kids show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum is based on a series of children’s books called “Ordinary People Change the World.” Xavier and his friends meet famous, inspiring figures as children and learn lessons from them. This one-hour special features some of history’s great female trailblazers.
SciGirls Stories
Sundays, March 22 and 29 at 11:00 am on WTTW11
On March 22, meet Latinas who are succeeding in the world of science and innovating in their problem-solving. On March 29, women who have excelled in the traditionally male-dominated fields of STEM tell their stories.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: The Mark Twain Prize
Saturday, March 28 at 11:30 pm on WTTW 11 and Sunday, March 29 at 11:30 pm on WTTW Prime
She’s known for indelible characters in the shows Seinfeld and Veep, and here her fellow comedians and funny people celebrate her as she receives American humor’s highest honor.
Call the Midwife
Sundays beginning March 29 at 7:00 pm on WTTW11
Now in its ninth season, Call the Midwife continues to tell heartwarming tales of the women of London’s Poplar in the 1960s, while tackling little-discussed issues with warmth and humanity. You can catch up on the previous season in a binge-able marathon beginning Saturday, March 28 at 10:00 am on WTTW Prime.