Throughout the fabric of time women’s stories have been told among grandmothers, mothers, and daughters. These precious narratives make up a valuable oral history of women, but researchers estimate that women’s stories comprise just 0.5 percent of recorded history. As recent as the 1970’s there was little to no curriculum in the United States public schools focused on women’s history. To remedy this situation, in 1978 the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week.” The organizers selected the week of March 8th to correspond with International Women’s Day. They also wanted to pick a time when the weather was mild so the community could get outside to celebrate.
The local Women’s History Week activities met with an energetic response from the community. Dozens of schools planned special programs for the weeklong celebration. Many women participated by teaching presentations in classrooms and an annual “Real Woman” Essay Contest drew hundreds of entries. The week culminated with a festive parade and program held in the center of downtown Santa Rosa, California. The following year the movement to honor women during this special week spread across the country in local school districts and communities. Educators, historians, families and communities began taking a closer look at the varied and important contributions of women in this country and throughout the world.
In 1980 a group of politicians led by the National Women’s History Project successfully lobbied for national recognition. In the winter of 1980, Jimmy Carter designated March 2-8th as National Women’s History Week. He wrote, “From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America were as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” Six years later in 1987, Congress passed a resolution designating March as Women’s History Month. Each year since 1987 the National Women’s History Alliance picks a theme for the month. Some of the past themes include, “Celebrating Women in STEM” in 2013 and “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories ”in 2023. This year, the theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” Let us work together to continue to tell future generations the stories and histories of women during this special month and throughout the year.
Ways to learn and celebrate Women’s History Month:
Walk Boston’s Women’s Heritage Trail
https://www.meetboston.com/things-to-do/sightseeing-and-tours/walking-tours/womens-heritage-trail/
Read about Worcester Women’s Oral History Project Building Community by sharing experiences through women’s stories
Listen to Memories from a Feminist Future presented by The British Library
https://soundcloud.com/the-british-library/memories-for-a-feminist-future/s-qWXeLaB8F9L
Read with Your Children:
- Midnight Teacher Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School by Janet Halfmann
- Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai
- Kamala Harris Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes
- She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton
Watch with Your Children: ( recommended 8+)
- Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable
- Brave
- Jane
- The Eagle Huntress