How to Honor Women’s History Month

What is Women’s History Month?

• Women’s History Month is an annual event to celebrate women’s achievements, recognize the history of systemic oppression and discrimination against women, and call attention to the progress made in securing equal rights while acknowledging all the work that still needs to be done.
• The National Women’s History Alliance has designated this year’s theme as “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope." The theme pays tribute to the brave female caregivers and frontline workers of the ongoing pandemic and recognizes the unique ways women have provided healing and hope for the betterment of all. 

The history behind Women’s History Month 

• Sonoma County’s Education Task Force first initiated a “Women’s History Week” in response to the widespread lack of awareness of women’s history in public education and American society in Sonoma, California, in 1978.
• In the following years, “Women’s History Week” spread across the country, and in 1980 President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. State Education Departments quickly began introducing Women’s History Week to their classrooms.
• Six years later, the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March. Each year, a Presidential Proclamation is issued to honor the achievements of women.
• Women’s History Month also brings attention to the lack of recognition of various demographics within female communities throughout history. Intersectionality - a term coined by professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 - describes how race, class, gender, and other characteristics intersect with one another. Women of color, transgender women, queer women, and low-income women often experience further disadvantages because of these characteristics and backgrounds. It is crucial to celebrate women’s history with an intersectional approach to be inclusive of all women.

How to get involved

Educational Resources

• Educate yourself on the history of women fighting for equal rights in America.
• Learn about the various organizations protecting the rights of women today and progressing equality worldwide, like the Human Rights Watch, Women for Women International, Association for Women’s Rights in Development, and more.   
• The Library of Congress offers a wide range of educational resources. Check out their designated guide to all of the women’s history resources available in their collections.

Support women artists, authors, and stories. From picture books to movies to music, discovering art created by women is a wonderful way to celebrate Women’s History Month. 

• Check out these lists of books written by female authors, and on women’s history, stories, and achievements: Penguin Random House, Book Authority, and picture books.
• Support a women-owned business.
• Here are a variety of films that portray the accomplishments of women throughout history: 20 Feminist Movies for Women’s History Month, Milwaukee Film’s Women’s History Month celebration, and documentaries of women’s history on History.com. 
• Shine a light on some of the female artists that changed the music industry with their talent and drive.

Events

• Washington, D.C. - The National Women’s History Museum is hosting several events throughout the month including virtual storytimes and conversations with authors, a 5k run, and more.
• New York City - The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is hosting an event “STEMing From Greatness: Women in STEM,” to commemorate female figures in history. 
• Bay Area - In the celebration of International Women’s Day, the Schooner Freda B at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor will be sailing around the San Francisco Bay and highlighting prominent women in Bay Area history. 
• Philadelphia - The Betsy Ross House will be hosting Storytelling Sundays each week in March to honor the contributions of women in history through award-winning storytellers.
• Los Angeles - Join California State University’s “Wonder Women: Celebrating Women in Tech” Zoom event on March 16th to discuss the experiences, journeys, and success stories of women in the tech field. 

How are you celebrating women’s history month this year? Let us know in the comments below.

-Jamie Epstein & Casey Dawson