Celebrate Women’s History Month This March

By Lauren

“A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.” – Melinda Gates

Every year since 1987, the United States of America has dedicated March to women. Women’s History Month celebrates the achievements and contributions made by notable women. 

Tracing its roots to 1909, the idea of celebrating women is nothing new. However, since then, women have made incredible strides. 

Today, we reflect upon those strides and look forward to how we can do even better for women in our society. We also recognize the women making these achievements and offer well-deserved respect. 

The Story Behind Women’s History Month

The origin of Women’s History Month dates back to New York City on March 8 of 1908. 15,000 women gathered to protest against labor conditions within the garment district. Additionally, the demand for the right to vote was still in full swing. A year later, the Socialist Party of America commemorated the event as “National Women’s Day.”

In 1910, German socialist Clara Zetkin decided to take it abroad. At the International Conference of Working Women, she proposed enacting an official day to honor women globally. By 1911, some European countries were celebrating an official “International Women’s Day.”

In 1917, the movement took over Russia. Thousands of Russian men and women formed massive protests that spanned a week. Together, they demanded employee rights and women’s suffrage. 

The protestors won and, within the same year, Russian women gained the right to vote – before suffragettes in the U.S. or U.K. Also that year, Vladimir Lenin declared “Women’s Day” as an official holiday. Some other communist and socialist countries followed.

For women in those nations, this was a big win. In the western world, however, the movement took a negative turn. Due to its popularity in the Soviet Union, International Women’s Day became associated with communism and socialism. Cold War tensions turned Americans against the very movement that they started. 

It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the idea went international again. In 1975, the United Nations chose to recognize and declare March 8 as International Women’s Day. After, the U.S. Congress designated a “Women’s History Week” in 1981. The week of March 7, 1982 marked the first occasion.

In 1987, Congress named March “Women’s History Month.” Since then, each president has proclaimed March as Women’s History Month.

Learn About Important Women in History

While Women’s History Month is rooted in women’s suffrage, it now holds a newer meaning. Today, this month highlights and praises American women’s contributions to society. The achievements of these women serve to inspire and empower younger generations. 

Here are some of the women you should know about during Women’s History Month. Each of these women has a fascinating story from different times in American history.

Sojourner Truth (1797 – 1883) 

During nineteenth-century America, Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and women’s rights activist. An African American born into slavery, Truth escaped it in 1826. 

While much of her work revolved around abolition, she became associated with the women’s rights movement after her “Ain’t I a woman?” speech. In this speech, she spoke of her experiences with discrimination as a Black woman. 

Georgia O’Keefe (1887 – 1986)

Georgia O’Keefe was an American minimalist artist in the twentieth century. She often painted desert landscapes, city skylines, or flowers. Over time, she earned the title of “Mother of American Modernism.”

Artists celebrated her unique style and role in establishing space for female artists. O’Keefe challenged the idea of any association between art and gender at all.

Katherine Johnson (1918 – 2020)

Mathematician Katherine Johnson helped send men to the Moon, thanks to her work in the 1960s. At the time, NASA needed African American women to work as “computers” and solve math problems. Her love for math suited the role well.

Johnson’s geometry work laid out paths for spacecraft to both orbit Earth and land on the Moon. Without her, the moon landing could have failed. 

Sandra Day O’Connor (1930 - )

The first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court was Sandra Day O’Connor. She was nominated to fill a vacancy by President Reagan in 1981. A unanimous vote swore her in. 

While O’Connor is a conservative Republican, the public saw her as a necessary swing voter. She was praised for her practical decisions during her time with the Court.

Kamala Harris (1964 - )

In the 2020 Election, Kamala Harris broke barriers for women and people of color in America. She is the first woman to hold office as Vice President. Additionally, she is the first African American and South Asian American vice president. 

Before her election, Harris represented California in the Senate. She also served as the state’s attorney general for five years. 

How to Celebrate Women’s History Month

Celebrate Women’s History Month by taking an active part in it. Learn about the notable contributions made by women in American history. Draw inspiration from the women in the process of making history today. Most importantly, listen to their stories and learn about their plights. 

Events are held throughout March to shine a light on women’s history and current issues. Most events are virtual to maintain safety and meet COVID-19 guidelines. 

Here are some to mark on your calendar. 

March 8: 

United Nations Observance of International Women’s Day

From 10:00 - 12:30 EST, The UN will broadcast at http://webtv.un.org as well as https://youtu.be/hyOOQ_6L-2I. To find other ways to get involved, visit http://www.unwomen.org  

International Women’s Day Summit

The 2021 Virtual International Women’s Day Summit is on March 8 from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. EST. Listen as powerful female speakers share visions for equity, peace, and unity during a 90-minute program. 

1,000 Women Leaders

The Women’s Peace and Humanity Fund is will broadcast the launch of 1,000 Women Leaders at 1:30 PM EST Click Here: Event Live Stream

March 10: Advancing Women’s Equality 

On March 10 from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m EST, the Law School at the University of Minnesota is hosting Advancing Women’s Equality: Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice. Explore and discover ways to advance beyond social barriers. 

Dolly Parton’s 75th Birthday LiveStream

Register at EventBrite to attend the free (donation appreciated) concert & celebration of Dolly Parton’s 75th Birthday on March 14 11:00AM - 12:30 PM EDT https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dolly-partons-75th-birthday-livestream-music-history-program-tickets-142926933305

March 18: Women of Color in America

Join Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal in What’s Next: Women of Color in America on March 18 from 1 to 2 p.m. EST. Discuss issues that affect women of color in today’s workplace. 

Explore Virtual Exhibits

If you can’t make it to a live virtual event, there are virtual exhibits to visit online. These exhibits teach more in-depth information about women’s history. 

The Women’s Museum of California hosts a collection of digital exhibits. Find topics like women’s suffrage and harmful beauty trends throughout history. 

Visit online exhibits through the National Women’s History Museum website. The exhibits range from topics like women in STEM to the history of nursing. 

By Lauren M. 

Greeley, CO.

https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~01c8755f54344e6d4f