Celebrating Women's History Month
Photo by Letícia Alvares from Pexels.
“I helped start Women's History Month over 40 years ago. Here's why it matters.” -Molly Murphy MacGregor.
President Jimmy Carter signing an extension of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1978.
Courtesy of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 181981.
In 1978, the week of March 8, women paraded across the streets of Santa Rosa, California. Essay contests and school presentations were created, inspired by the high school teacher, Molly Murphy McGregor. This was the birth of Women's History Week, which soon was established as Women's History Month a couple years later.
The catalyst? Forty years ago, McGregor was told there wasn’t enough material to teach women's history. It started when she couldn’t find an answer in textbooks to answer a student's question about the women's movement. She states that many were left trying to explain stories that few chose to remember. However, she created a legacy that’s impossible to forget. Along with her four other colleagues, Maria Elena Maria, Mary Ruthsdotter, Paula Hammett, and Bette Morgan, their movement went national, causing the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8th, issued by president Jimmy Carter, to be Women’s History Week.
How Women’s History Month Changed the World
In the 1970’s, women’s history was completely invisible. Nobody taught the many accomplishments and stories that women had contributed to society and the world. Young girls and women weren’t empowered or confident like they are today; most people, even teachers, couldn't name more than two well-known women who weren’t athletes or movie stars! When women were trying to bring light to those whose stories were forgotten and shift society from its male-centered narrative, they were shamed and called self-promoters who hated men. Despite this, women persevered and were able to achieve their goals: highlighting how women shaped culture and history, creating role models to allow girls to feel confident in themselves, advocating and fostering gender equality, celebrating diversity by honoring contributions from every woman from all walks of life, and much more.
Additionally, Women’s History Month led to a rise in global activism, exposing systemic sexual harassment and motivating women to speak up, also focusing on discussions of consent. America wasn’t the only place that was influenced by this societal shift. In 1980, in China, a new marriage law took place. In this law, women greatly benefited—forced marriages were banned, women were granted rights to own family property, pursue education, and work. It made divorcing easier, and advertised late marriage to help women focus on their careers.
All of this helped women advance as a society, leave abusive marriages, and gain gender equality. This month also helps celebrate women in STEM fields and elect more women into political leadership roles.
Women Who Changed the World
-Malala Yousafzai: An Pakistani activist for female education, and the youngest ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She co-founded the Malala Fund, which invests in girls’ education, in 2013, and invested in other activists in countries such as Jordan and Pakistan.
-Wangari Maathai: A Kenyan environmental political scientist who founded the Green Belt Movement and advocated for women's rights, environmental conservation, and tree planting. She was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
-Amelia Earhart: She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic ocean and set a new altitude record. She broke gender barriers and stereotypes, especially in aviation. Her record breaking empowered and inspired many women around the world.
-Harriet Tubman: An American humanitarian and abolitionist who escaped slavery and helped approximately 70 others to escape as well, using a network of safehouses. During the Civil War, she also served as a nurse, spy, and scout. She also was a supporter of women's suffrage and worked alongside Susan B. Anthony.
-Susan. B. Anthony: She worked tirelessly in the women’s suffrage movement for gender equality, female education, and for women’s labor rights. She cofounded the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869. She also published The Revolution, which was a newspaper that advocated for women’s rights.
Remembering Women's History Month is vital, not just the month itself, but the women who fought for it. Gender equality and women empowerment is truly strong, important, and something worth cherishing for generations to come. Happy Women’s History Month!
