Emma Greenhut, NC Globe Reporter
Featured Image: Noun Project (Wikimedia Commons Public Domain)
Every March, Americans commemorate Women’s History Month, honoring the contributions of women to society. Communities across the nation take steps to highlight, support, and educate others about women’s contributions to society, including patronizing women-owned businesses, reading books by female authors, mentoring young women and hosting panels.
This year, the National Women’s History Alliance announced the theme of “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future” for Women’s History Month. The theme focused on the intersections of women’s advancement and environmental concerns.
According to the organization, the theme highlighted “sustainability beyond just environmental concerns. It encompasses financial sustainability, community resilience, leadership succession and intergenerational equity… this theme affirms that shaping a sustainable future means fostering systems that support both people and the planet.”
The Smithsonian and National Park Service also highlighted women’s history, using digital and crowdsourced educational tools which aimed to showcase women’s history through a variety of mediums.
Although Women’s History Month is well-established today, it did not start out with the same level of support and acceptance.
Women’s History Month started in 1978 when a group of women in Sonoma County, California embarked on the inaugural Women’ History Week. They planned the event during March so that it would coincide with March 8, International Women’s Day.
Schools in the county participated by hosting presentations, essay contests and discussions about the achievements of women through history. The idea of a Women’s History Week rapidly gained traction and was soon recognized in communities nationwide.
Women’s History Week soon took its first steps onto the national political stage. In 1980, a consortium of women’s organizations and historians — led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women’s History Alliance) — successfully lobbied for national recognition.
That same year, President Jimmy Carter issued a presidential proclamation declaring that the week of March 8, 1980 would be the first official National Women’s History Week.
In 1982, the movement made greater strides forward when President Regan designated the week of March 7 as Women’s History Week and acknowledged the many contributions of Women throughout American history. The proclamation stated:
“American women of every race, creed and ethnic background helped found and build our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways … As leaders in public affairs, American women not only worked to secure their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity but also were principal advocates in the abolitionist, temperance, mental health reform, industrial labor and social reform movements, as well as the modern civil rights movement.”
By 1987, Congress officially expanded Women’s History Week from a single week to the whole month of March, thus establishing what is now recognized as Women’s History Month.
Women’s History Month highlights the important achievements of the many female leaders, activists and entrepreneurs who have contributed immeasurably to American culture and society.
Women’s History Month often sheds light on the important inventions that were developed by women such as the dishwasher, windshield wipers, Kevlar, Post-It notes, Scotchgard, caller ID and the chocolate chip cookie.
The month also serves as a reminder of the progress women have made but also of the challenges that still face them. To illustrate, women make up 47% of the workplace, but are still plagued by the gender pay gap, a phenomenon in which women are only paid about 81-85% of what men are paid for the same job. Accordingly, the month provides a showcase to empower girls to feel courageous, confident and inspired by the women who came before them despite current disparities.
Women’s History Month is a storied yet still evolving institution that invites Americans to celebrate the achievements of women and also recognize ongoing work towards equality and opportunity. By celebrating, many young girls may be inspired to become the future leaders and innovators of the future and build a more equitable and just future.
