Happy March and happy Women’s History Month!
There is a lot about Women’s History Month that many people, including myself, don’t know much about. So, let’s start with the basics. What is it and when is it celebrated? Women’s History Month is celebrated the entire month of March in the name of the contributions the women in our history have made.
Women’s History Month is formerly known as International Women’s Day, and while we still celebrate this on March 28, it has grown since then. International Women’s Day was started in 1910 after being suggested the year following the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in celebration of the long battle of gaining women’s suffrage in Germany. The United States and other countries alike began to celebrate it in the years to come.
In the year 1980, International Women’s Day became International Women’s Week, starting specifically on March 8, courtesy of the president at the time, Jimmy Carter. Seven short years later, in 1987, and since then, the celebration of Women’s History has been declared a month-long celebration.
Now let’s touch a little on the why. Women being pushed aside and minimized to almost nothing is a tale as old as time. However, being succumbed to the “stay-at-home-mom” lifestyle and forced to stay away from what was to be considered male professions, clearly and thankfully, did not stick. As generations pass, we see the rise of feminism, gender equality and the procurement of women’s rights as the norm has changed the way the world sees the power and role of a woman.
So, now that we know a little bit more about the meaning behind this month-long party, let’s learn what can we do today in our everyday lives to commemorate such a celebration.
Take advantage of social media
At the bare minimum, we can raise awareness and show our support by taking part in the posting and reposting of infographics and other posts on the topic. For instance, The National Women’s History Museum has a verified Instagram account that I imagine will be very active this month. Otherwise, your favorite feminist influencer will likely curate a post or two.
Recognize our #sheroes
More recently, Women’s History Month has taken on different themes. This year, according to the National Women’s Health Alliance, the theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope.” After two years of an ongoing global pandemic, this does not come as a surprise. Because of this, to show our appreciation we can thank our female healthcare professionals for their time and hard work. Consider treating them to lunch or even simpler, giving them a call. And make sure to add the growing hashtag #SHeroes on your posts!
support a women’s organization
Like any other movement, money is often the cornerstone to significant change. Researchers and philanthropists around the country have put their time and money into building organizations to promote women in the workforce and their accomplishments in other fields. If you are looking to donate to show support, you can find a list of credible charities here!
It’s important to note that though we have come a very, very long way, we are not yet done. There are still many issues that we as women experience every day. We owe it to the women in our history and ourselves to remain educated on the matter and continue to show support in any way we can. I am proud to be a woman in this country and even more so a woman in STEM, and for that, I feel incredibly blessed. Again, happy Women’s History Month!
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