Describes how to use biographies of successful women politicians to provide career role models for elementary school girls. The biographies of Margaret Chase Smith, Bella Abzug, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, and Juanita Kreps are recommended as resources for career education. (AM)

Suggests ways of studying women's biographies so as to provide young girls with appropriate role models. (DD)

Juvenile political biographies of contemporary American women can provide important role models for elementary school girls in the process of exploring careers. While there is a paucity of juvenile political biographies of contemporary women, a number of excellent ones do exist. These can be used in a variety of ways, including using one biography…

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,…

Too often books have been published with contrived and unnatural nonsexist messages. Teachers searching for good nonsexist literature need to consider the potential contributions of biographies, especially women's biographies, written for young children's listening and reading enjoyment. Women in well-selected biographies are assertive,…