Women’s History Month Playlist 2026
☆Women’s History Month Playlist 2026☆
This Women’s History Month, us here in the music department at KCSB wanted to highlight some of the amazing women artists using their music to fight for and celebrate women’s empowerment. This playlist spans decades of activism, music styles, and issues facing women, highlighting the enduring intersection between women’s protest and music. With this we hope to shine a light on these amazing women activists and artists and the issues they call attention to in their music because we at KCSB believe a women’s place is in the revolution!
☆EL’S RECS☆
“How Can You Keep On Movin’” – Sis Cunningham
Sis Cunningham was active in the folk music scene, and was an organizer for the South Tenants Farmers Union. She also formed the band the Red Dust Players, which traveled across Oklahoma playing songs and acting out skits to try and mobilize the poor individuals of Oklahoma. This song is specifically addressing how, during the dust bowl, individuals who were displaced from their homes were not allowed to migrate to other states and the issues that came with that. Although this is something that happened a century ago, the relevance of the song to today is striking.
Violeta Parra was a chilean music artist and a pioneer of the Nueva Cancion Chilean movement, which sought to connect strong political and social themes to music and a resurgence of traditional chilean folk ballads (similar to that of the folk revival in the US). This song describes a sister being upset with her government for imprisoning her brother for protesting. It highlights the issues with the Chilean government, speaking out against violence and corruption in her country.
“Custom Made Woman Blues” – Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard
Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard paved the way for women in the bluegrass scene; before them, it was extremely uncommon to see women fronting a bluegrass band. Originally they started by playing traditional bluegrass songs, but they eventually morphed into focusing on political and social injustices, especially from a woman’s perspective. This song describes how men want women to be almost like dolls and to exist for them, using sarcasm and anger to show their distaste for this issue.
“I’m Going to Organize” – Sarah Ogan Gunning
Sarah Ogan Gunning was a folk songwriter from the 1930s, who was the sister to both Aunt Molly Jackson and Jim Garland– two artists that would go on to overshadow her. She wrote the popular song “I Am a Girl of Constant Sorrow” covered by both Joan Baez and Barbara Dane. Her songs feature only her voice and a lot of emotion, and this track includes her telling the listener she is going to protest and urging them to do the same.
☆SARAH B.’S RECS☆
“Capital” – Amyl & the Sniffers
This track relates lead singer Amy’s reclamation of her life and body, protesting patriarchy, capitalism, and settler colonialism. It’s off the Australia-based band’s 2021 album “Comfort to Me” and its honest and unafraid protest punk lyricism have often been a source of comfort for me these last couple years. I saw Amyl & the Sniffers live and between songs Amy gave many empowered and motivating speeches about sexual violence, ICE, Palestine, and more, using their platform to fight for what they believe is right.
“Ladykillers” – Lush
This track is dripping with sarcasm, portraying three cringey male characters trying to hit on girls at bars and the women’s reactions to these men who treat them like conquests. Listening to this I felt an instant sense of solidarity, especially the line “I want to tell him.” In a 120 Minutes interview, lead singer Miki Berenyi described the lyrics as, “If you have an argument with someone, you walk around with it in your head until you win it.” With upbeat instrumentals that almost trick you that this track is lighthearted, this track captures women’s experiences, frustration, and fear living in a world of gross misogynistic men.
“Your Dog” – Soccer Mommy
This track is an anthem for demanding respect and reclaiming agency and identity amidst condescension, control, and abuse by a male partner. The lyrics are blunt and personal, complimented by dreamy yet distorted instrumentals that highlight the angry yet paralyzed feeling of abusive relationships described. This track feels so raw, authentic, and heartbreaking, yet empowering.
“Heaven Help the Working Girl” – Janet Kaye
Most any woman who has worked in the service industry will be able to relate to this track. This is Janet Kaye’s cover of Norma Jean’s original song, expressing how exhausting sexist patrons can be and recognizing the strength it required to maintain a job while navigating these never ending comments. It is a glimpse into the gendered expectations for women in the service industry that is cathartic and draws attention to the daily struggles of women.
☆ERE’S RECS☆
“Are You A Lady?” – Bratmobile
This Riot Grrl band made a song about what it’s like to be a woman; all of the anger towards stereotyping and constant criticism for just existing is encapsulated in this song.
“Dig Me Out ” – Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney is an all-girl band that was also very involved in the Riot Grrl movement. Dig Me Out is made with a lot of feminist rage and talks a lot about not being comfortable in your own body.
“Rebel Girl” – Bikini Kill
This is a Riot Grrl feminist anthem that made history and has been used across so many platforms to promote the empowerment of women, encouraging girls to rebel and do what they want to do despite society’s oppression.
“White Boy” – Bikini Kill
White Boy by Bikini Kill criticizes rape culture and the sympathy that white men get when it comes to the harassment and abuse of women.
“ Respect” – Aretha Franklin
One of the earlier feminist anthems is where an African American woman demands respect and autonomy. This song continues to be influential throughout the 21st century.
☆ISABELLE’S RECS☆
“Lorna” – 7 Year Bitch
This song is a love letter to all of the rowdy party girls out there: “She had the cool and distant gaze // Of a girl who wasn’t raised // Because she’s self-made.”
“Run Like A Girl” – Febuary
Febuary, an all-femme screamo band from Las Vegas, has a history of making waves in the typically male-dominant moern screamo scene.
“I Am A Union Woman” – Bobbie McGee
Hell yeah … trade union ballads are for women too! Off the aptly titled “Bread and Raises: Songs for Working Women”
☆LILY’S RECS☆
A song about Shirley Muldowney, the first woman to drive an NHRA-licensed dragster. Hell yeah…
You think you can tell English NWOBHM rockers Girlschool what to do? YEAH RIGHT!!!
Classic German thrash band, led by frontwoman Sabina Classen, tell a story about a kickass heavy metal queen.
“Blood I Bleed” – Détente
Dawn Cosby and her band of LA-based thrashers comment on society’s entitlement to women’s bodies.
“Die (and Rot)” – Babe Haven
High-energy, hardcore queer punk band from North Carolina.
☆MADDIE’S RECS☆
“I’m Gonna Be an Engineer” – Peggy Seeger
Folk legend Pete Seeger’s sister! Great protest track against social norms for Women in education!
“Everything Is Free” – Gillian Welch
One of my favorite songs about streaming music. Who doesn’t love a contemporary folk protest track, and Gillian Welch is the master of modern folk music, solidizing a longstanding argument about the unfair wages of artists on streaming services in this beautiful track.
“Oh, Freedom” – Joan Baez
Classic freedom track performed live at the Newport Folk Festival. Joan Baez adds her own spin on it at the end, changing the lyrics to protest Jim Crow. Joan Baez is an iconic female folk singer known for her protest tracks so of course I had to include her!
“I Hate the Capitalist System” – Barbara Dane
As relevant now as it was then. Barbara Dane should be recognized more as an iconic female folk and protest musician!
“The Pill” – Loretta Lynn
Nowadays, country music is often associated with conservative values, but that wasn’t always the case! Before we had Morgan Wallen, we had John Prine, Emmylou Harris, and Loretta Lynn! Loretta Lynn made waves discussing reproduction rights in this 1975 classic, so take a listen!