Women’s History Month is crucial in honoring and advocating for women

The month of March pays tribute to the women who contributed to American history and made the country’s society what it is today. Initially, in 1978 in Santa Rosa, California the Education Task Force of Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women began planning a “Women’s History Week” during the week of March 8. This week gained a lot of support and began to be celebrated all over the country the following year. 

In 1995, though, the United States government recognized the holiday and turned it into Women’s History Month. Women’s history is crucial as the women who have helped shape our country have gone unnoticed for far too long. 

The history of women who have changed the outcome of both the United States and the world only began being taught in the U.S. in the 1970s. Thus, when it came to educating children about who “changed the world,” there was a prominent focus on men. This centralization of men in history teachings left women—like Amelia Earhart, Sojourner Truth, Helen Keller, Rosa Parks, and more to be overlooked and underappreciated. 

Women have and will remain a consistent part of our world, and while it is essential to focus on the historical aspect, it is also significant to advocate and support women in the present and the future. For instance, Freda Josephine Baker, an American-born French dancer was widely known for her hypnotizing acting and dancing skills. She is now recognized, however, for her role during World War II, and her fight against racial segregation. Baker acted as a spy for the French Resistance, passing secrets she obtained while performing for the enemy. Her contributions awarded her two of France's highest military honors, the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honour, and she became the first American woman to receive such honors. In the 1960s and 1970s, Baker dedicated the remainder of her life to confronting segregation in the U.S. 

For the support of women to persist and increase, it is crucial to inform yourself and those around you about the women challenging our system and intently using every day of their lives to make a change in our world. To celebrate the courage and strength of women in the past, present, and future, it is critical to educate, inform, and empower other women. Here are a few actions you can take to do so. 

You can watch films with a predominantly female figure challenging societal norms: Yentl, When Harry Met Sally, Frida, and Hidden Figures to name a few. To view more films with advocacy for women go to this link. Movies like the ones listed not only display the power of women but also diverse groups of women while highlighting the different struggles they have all gone through.

If you want to support the cause even further, find local women-owned businesses and shops and learn about their journey to success. The great thing about all of these activities is that they are inexpensive, yet give a considerable amount of support and champion the women involved and women in the future. 

While Women’s History Month marks a substantial increase in the recognition of women, it is not enough to do the aforementioned activities only once per year. In the other 11 months of the year, women throughout history and in the current day do not receive acknowledgment that is so well deserved. To encourage the force of women, educate and inform yourself regularly on who made this world what it is today and what you can do to continue that progress, as even small acts can make a difference.