Biography is a popular approach to history education in the younger grades, especially when teaching units of study during Women's History Month, which is March. A biography-centered approach, however, can be problematic when such lessons are not tied to any context, promoting the misconception that individuals create social change in isolation.…

To assist elementary teachers committed to integrating women's studies into social studies, criteria which should be met by juvenile biographies of women are discussed and illustrations from biographies are provided. Examples of what to consider when selecting biographies follow. In a sexist biography, heroines portray sexist attitudes, beliefs,…