Today marks the first day of Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month is a celebration to reflect and celebrate the often overlooked contributions of women in US history, culture, and society.
It has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. However, the actual celebration of Women’s History Month grew out of a weeklong celebration organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest, and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa. A few years later, the idea had caught on within communities, school districts, and organizations across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the following year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.
The National Women’s History Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women’s History Month. The 2022 theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” This theme is “both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.”
Women’s History Month actually coincides with International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the economic, political, and social achievements of women, took place for the first time on March 8, 1911. Many countries around the world celebrate the holiday with demonstrations, educational initiatives and customs such as presenting women with gifts and flowers. The United Nations has sponsored International Women’s Day since 1975. When adopting its resolution on the observance of International Women’s Day, the United Nations General Assembly cited the following reasons: “To recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.”
Below are some quick links with some interesting facts and resources about the contributions of women in our nation that are often overlooked or unknown. I encourage you all to take some time to check them out.
Happy Women’s History Month!
LINKS:
The Surprising History of International Women’s Day – HISTORY
A Proclamation on Women’s History Month, 2022 | The White House
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