March is Women’s History Month, the time of year during which the country shines a spotlight on women’s roles and contributions in American history. Women have influenced and continue to influence history and have made their mark on society through their inventions, discoveries, and art, despite the obstacles that are often placed in front of them. Although this month is nearing its end, it’s important to recognize women’s contributions and accomplishments both now during the month of March and throughout the rest of the year.
Women’s history wasn’t celebrated for a full month until relatively recently. The first International Women’s Day took place in 1911 and is still celebrated annually on March 8th. However, the first observance of a national Women’s History Month did not occur for another seventy-six years. The idea to expand our celebration of women’s history past one day began in schools. In 1978, The school district of Sonoma County, California had a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history, and society. During this week, students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest and attended presentations given at the schools. At the end of the week, a parade was held. Women’s History Week eventually spread out of Sonoma County to other schools, organizations, and communities. The idea was also adopted by women’s groups and historians, who went on to lobby the government for national recognition.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation that made the week of March 8th National Women’s History Week. In this proclamation, Carter explained his rationale for the necessity of this week by saying, “Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” For the next few years, Congress passed joint resolutions designating the week of March 8th Women’s History Week. By 1986, fourteen states had declared March to be Women’s History Month, although Women’s History Week wouldn’t become a full month on a national-scale until the next year. The efforts of the National Women’s History Project led to the successful petitioning of Congress and an expansion of the week to a month.
Similarly to the actions of Carter in 1980, each president since 1995 has issued an annual proclamation designating March Women’s History Month and briefly discussing the importance of the month. For March 2021, President Joe Biden continued this tradition. On March 1st, he issued a proclamation that touched on women’s contributions from both the past and present and the impact of COVID-19 on women. He emphasized the role of women of color, who have faced disproportionately higher rates of unemployment during the pandemic. To conclude the proclamation, he asked Americans to “honor the accomplished and visionary women who have helped build our country, including those whose contributions have not been adequately recognized and celebrated” and “pay tribute to the trailblazers from the recent and distant past for daring to envision a future for which no past precedent existed, and for building a Nation of endless possibilities for all of its women and girls.”
Each year, the National Women’s History Project declares a theme for Women’s History Month. Some past themes include “Reclaiming the Past, Rewriting the Future” (1988), “In Every Generation, Action Frees Our Dreams” (1994), and “Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet” (2009). This year’s theme is “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced”. The theme is a continuation of last year’s theme, as 2020 marked the centennial anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment which gave women the right to vote. The pandemic caused a cancellation of many events celebrating 100 years of female suffrage last year and the continuation of the theme this year hopes to allow for these events to take place. While the theme highlights the work of activists involved in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment and later the Voting Rights Act of 1965, it also seeks to recognize women’s political involvement, development, and leadership today.
Women’s History Month has always sought to honor women’s contributions to history and society. Women have overcome many challenges throughout history and today, but have still managed to accomplish so much. This March is the perfect opportunity to learn more about their contributions and to recognize women’s roles in shaping our world today!
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