This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Hamilton chapter.

March is Women’s History Month

Up through the first half of the 20th century, people generally paid very little attention to the rights – or lack of rights – and accomplishments of women. But in the 60’s and 70’s, second-wave feminism and different women’s movements started changing that. Laws like the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Supreme Court Cases like Roe V. Wade started making important strides for women in the U.S., and colleges and universities began to build Women’s and Gender Studies departments. Today, we continue to strive for better rights and recognition for women, and specifically for women of all races, economic status, and sexuality. Take a class in Hamilton’s Women’s Studies department if you want to learn more about how gender and other aspects of identity affect us.

International Women’s Day was first celebrated on March 8, in 1914. Today, this day is a time for the UN to focus on issues affecting women and girls. They are currently aiming for a set of goals to significantly improve women’s rights worldwide by 2030 – their goals include eliminating violence against women and providing equal education opportunities.

In 1978, Sonoma County, CA, created Women’s History Week, which included International Women’s Day, and Congress established a national Women’s History Week in 1981. It was expanded into a month in 1987. Here are just a few women in history who did some really cool things:

· Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.

· Rosalind Franklin made major contributions to the study of DNA.

· Rosa Parks played a significant role in the Civil Rights movement.

· Harriet Tubman freed over 300 slaves on the Underground Railroad.

· Frida Kahlo was a highly celebrated artist.

· Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

· Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, creating the genre of science fiction.

· Zora Neale Hurston was an influential author of the Harlem Renaissance.

· Sacajawea was an interpreter for the Lewis and Clarke expedition.

Sources:

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womensintro1.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day