The Woman Who Ran For President: The Many Lives of Victoria Woodhull

Dive into the extraordinary life of Victoria Woodhull in "The Woman Who Ran For President: The Many Lives of Victoria Woodhull," a tale of resilience and reform that echoes through the corridors of history to inspire today’s discussions on gender equality, voting rights, and economic justice. Published on June 1, 1995, this biography unfolds the story of a woman who transcended her impoverished beginnings to shatter the glass ceilings of her time. Woodhull was not only the first female Wall Street broker and the first woman to address Congress, but she also made history as the first female presidential candidate. Her journey, marked by both groundbreaking achievements and controversies such as her advocacy for free love and her career as a clairvoyant, paints a multifaceted portrait of a true pioneer. Middle school readers will find in Woodhull a figure of immense courage and complexity, whose life invites us to reflect on the intersections of social norms and personal convictions. This narrative prompts young readers to question, "How can we draw on the lessons from Victoria Woodhull’s life to advance today’s social justice causes?"