March, recognized as Women’s History Month, is the labeled time to recognize, commemorate, study, congratulate, and celebrate women that have exemplified great courage and valor in the face of opposition, adversity, and discrimination throughout history. The vital role that women have played in American history is by far an impressive feat that should never go unnoticed. Women’s History Month actually originated as Women’s History Week. The concept of Women’s History Month started in 1985 when women’s history activists Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett, and Bette Morgan, the founders of The National Women’s History Alliance, led a coalition to lobby the government into designating March National Women’s History Month. They were excitingly successful. The nation of the United States has a Women’s History Month and there is an International Women’s Day, which is March 8th, but arguably the world deserves to have an International Women’s History Month, not just a day. By recognizing and celebrating women from all over the world for what they do and have done to make a difference in history, more little girls all around the world have opportunities opened up for them from seeing the example made and left behind by women before them. There are so many women that come to mind and their accomplishments/examples that they left behind will proudly proceed them for many years to come. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton accomplished getting the vote for some women, Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, Rosa Parks was an American activist known for her pivotal participation in the Montgomery Bus Boycott during the Civil Rights Movement. The US Congress has even labeled Rosa as “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement” Rosa most definitely lived by her quote, “Each person must live their life as a model for others,” as has every woman that is recognized by this historic month. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, left behind an incredible example that will forever proceed her and be remembered for her activism and fight for women’s rights. Actually, as I am writing this, today, March 15th would have been her 88th birthday. “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” RBG is truly one of the most impressive women that I look up to and her example is what I look for and hope to follow in as I soon enter my journalistic career, facing adversity and being a true, strong, and active activist for women’s rights. Women’s History Month will forever be important and it’s so crucial to celebrate it, as it instills so much optimism into future generations as time progresses. The fight for equality is far from over, but with women from previous generations having paved such exemplary examples and now with generations following them now, or them making their own paths, the future is looking so much brighter. Women are extremely powerful and we deserve to always be celebrated.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at MMM chapter.