2023 Women’s History Month

Another year and another opportunity to celebrate Women’s History Month.

Happy Women’s History Month. March has been designated as the month to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of women all around the world; past, present and future. 

The month of March was selected as the celebration month because of many celebratory and legislation reasons. The Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women’s Education Task Force introduced Women’s History Week to the county’s school curriculum in March 1978; along with International Women’s Day falling on March 8th. In February 1980, President Carter would issue the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s History Week. Within the next year, Representative Barbara Mikulski, who at the time was in the House of Representatives, and Senator Orrin Hatch co-sponsored a Congressional Resolution for National Women’s History Week 1981. 

The efforts to include women’s history into school curriculums around the nation became fruitful as various state departments of education were becoming encouraged to take part in the celebrations in their own classrooms. By 1986, 14 states declared March the hosting month for women’s history celebrations; the state-joined action caused lobbying for Congress to declare the entire month of March 1987 as National Women’s History Month. Various Presidents within the years of 1988 and 1994 would add other resolutions requesting and allowing the proclaiming March of each year as Women’s History Month. The United States Presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month” since 1995. Each of the proclamations celebrates the contributions and achievements of women made over American history in a variety of fields.

Take the chance to celebrate Women’s History Month; whether that is highlighting women’s achievements or donating to your local women’s support groups.

Sources:

-https://womenshistorymonth.gov/about/

-https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month

-https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/womens-history-month/womens-history-month-history/

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